diff --git a/cmd/crates/soroban-test/tests/it/integration/hello_world.rs b/cmd/crates/soroban-test/tests/it/integration/hello_world.rs
index 16c13dd25..ec0c843db 100644
--- a/cmd/crates/soroban-test/tests/it/integration/hello_world.rs
+++ b/cmd/crates/soroban-test/tests/it/integration/hello_world.rs
@@ -295,6 +295,18 @@ async fn contract_data_read() {
         .assert()
         .success()
         .stdout(predicates::str::starts_with("COUNTER,2"));
+
+    // ensure default durability = persistent works
+    sandbox
+        .new_assert_cmd("contract")
+        .arg("read")
+        .arg("--id")
+        .arg(id)
+        .arg("--key")
+        .arg(KEY)
+        .assert()
+        .success()
+        .stdout(predicates::str::starts_with("COUNTER,2"));
 }
 
 #[tokio::test]
diff --git a/cmd/soroban-cli/src/key.rs b/cmd/soroban-cli/src/key.rs
index 7a0ccb844..885295936 100644
--- a/cmd/soroban-cli/src/key.rs
+++ b/cmd/soroban-cli/src/key.rs
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ pub struct Args {
     )]
     pub wasm_hash: Option<String>,
     /// Storage entry durability
-    #[arg(long, value_enum, required = true, default_value = "persistent")]
+    #[arg(long, value_enum, default_value = "persistent")]
     pub durability: Durability,
 }