diff --git a/llama_stack/cli/stack/run.py b/llama_stack/cli/stack/run.py
index 79f604d1aa..7d6af8120b 100644
--- a/llama_stack/cli/stack/run.py
+++ b/llama_stack/cli/stack/run.py
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ def _add_arguments(self):
             type=str,
             help="Image Type used during the build. This can be either conda or container or venv.",
             choices=["conda", "container", "venv"],
+            default="conda",
         )
 
     def _run_stack_run_cmd(self, args: argparse.Namespace) -> None: