diff --git a/vtkdiff.cpp b/vtkdiff.cpp
index d6568fb..c7782f8 100644
--- a/vtkdiff.cpp
+++ b/vtkdiff.cpp
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ auto parseCommandLine(int argc, char* argv[]) -> Args
     cmd.add(vtk_input_b_arg);
 
     TCLAP::ValueArg<std::string> data_array_a_arg(
-        "a", "first_data_array", "First data array name for comparison", true,
+        "a", "first_data_array", "First data array name for comparison", false,
         "", "NAME");
 
     TCLAP::ValueArg<std::string> data_array_b_arg(