diff --git a/tools/tplist.py b/tools/tplist.py
index 515d176c2069..c6fdc53f8a74 100755
--- a/tools/tplist.py
+++ b/tools/tplist.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
         help="List USDT probes in the specified process")
 parser.add_argument("-l", "--lib", default="",
         help="List USDT probes in the specified library or executable")
-parser.add_argument("-v", dest="verbosity", action="count",
+parser.add_argument("-v", dest="verbosity", action="count", default=0,
         help="Increase verbosity level (print variables, arguments, etc.)")
 parser.add_argument(dest="filter", nargs="?",
         help="A filter that specifies which probes/tracepoints to print")