diff --git a/x/staking/client/cli/tx.go b/x/staking/client/cli/tx.go
index 9735c5b3f..dcec0ca44 100644
--- a/x/staking/client/cli/tx.go
+++ b/x/staking/client/cli/tx.go
@@ -394,6 +394,7 @@ func PrepareFlagsForTxCreateValidator(
 	viper.Set(flags.FlagFrom, viper.GetString(flags.FlagName))
 	viper.Set(FlagNodeID, nodeID)
 	viper.Set(FlagIP, ip)
+	viper.Set(flags.FlagTrustNode, true)
 	viper.Set(FlagPubKey, sdk.MustBech32ifyPubKey(sdk.Bech32PubKeyTypeConsPub, valPubKey))
 	viper.Set(FlagMoniker, config.Moniker)
 	viper.Set(FlagWebsite, website)