diff --git a/ant-bootstrap/src/initial_peers.rs b/ant-bootstrap/src/initial_peers.rs
index 32a19e6398..07d0cd3b24 100644
--- a/ant-bootstrap/src/initial_peers.rs
+++ b/ant-bootstrap/src/initial_peers.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ pub struct PeersArgs {
     ///
     /// If this argument is used, any others will be ignored because they do not apply to the first
     /// node.
-    #[clap(long)]
+    #[clap(long, default_value = "false")]
     pub first: bool,
     /// Addr(s) to use for bootstrap, in a 'multiaddr' format containing the peer ID.
     ///
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ pub struct PeersArgs {
     /// Set to indicate this is a local network. You could also set the `local` feature flag to set this to true.
     ///
     /// This would use mDNS for peer discovery.
-    #[clap(long, conflicts_with = "network_contacts_url")]
+    #[clap(long, conflicts_with = "network_contacts_url", default_value = "false")]
     pub local: bool,
     /// Set to indicate this is a testnet.
     ///
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ pub struct PeersArgs {
     pub disable_mainnet_contacts: bool,
 
     /// Set to not load the bootstrap addresses from the local cache.
-    #[clap(long)]
+    #[clap(long, default_value = "false")]
     pub ignore_cache: bool,
 }
 impl PeersArgs {
diff --git a/ant-node-manager/src/bin/cli/main.rs b/ant-node-manager/src/bin/cli/main.rs
index eee22641e3..14b84e55f7 100644
--- a/ant-node-manager/src/bin/cli/main.rs
+++ b/ant-node-manager/src/bin/cli/main.rs
@@ -131,11 +131,6 @@ pub enum SubCmd {
         /// This enables the use of antnode services from a home network with a router.
         #[clap(long)]
         home_network: bool,
-        /// Set this flag to launch antnode with the --local flag.
-        ///
-        /// This is useful for building a service-based local network.
-        #[clap(long)]
-        local: bool,
         /// Provide the path for the log directory for the installed node.
         ///
         /// This path is a prefix. Each installed node will have its own directory underneath it.
@@ -1075,7 +1070,6 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
             env_variables,
             evm_network,
             home_network,
-            local,
             log_dir_path,
             log_format,
             max_archived_log_files,
@@ -1103,7 +1097,7 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
                 env_variables,
                 Some(evm_network.try_into()?),
                 home_network,
-                local,
+                peers.local,
                 log_dir_path,
                 log_format,
                 max_archived_log_files,