diff --git a/client/mysql_upgrade.c b/client/mysql_upgrade.c
index c220ef16cfe..33f9f030c1e 100644
--- a/client/mysql_upgrade.c
+++ b/client/mysql_upgrade.c
@@ -462,6 +462,7 @@ static void find_tool(char *tool_executable_name, const char *tool_name,
   */
   if (run_tool(tool_executable_name,
                &ds_tmp, /* Get output from command, discard*/
+               "--no-defaults",
                "--help",
                "2>&1",
                IF_WIN("> NUL", "> /dev/null"),