diff --git a/packages/cli/src/modules/lint/alpha.ts b/packages/cli/src/modules/lint/alpha.ts
index c7b9ab66ed..617f71d5c9 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/modules/lint/alpha.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/modules/lint/alpha.ts
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ export default createCliPlugin({
         );
         command.option(
           '--max-warnings <number>',
-          'Fail if more than this number of warnings. -1 allows warnings. (default: 0)',
+          'Fail if more than this number of warnings. -1 allows warnings. (default: -1)',
         );
         command.description('Lint a package');
         command.action(
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ export default createCliPlugin({
         );
         command.option(
           '--max-warnings <number>',
-          'Fail if more than this number of warnings. -1 allows warnings. (default: 0)',
+          'Fail if more than this number of warnings. -1 allows warnings. (default: -1)',
         );
         command.description('Lint a repository');
         command.action(lazy(() => import('./commands/repo/lint'), 'command'));
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/modules/lint/index.ts b/packages/cli/src/modules/lint/index.ts
index 5be76d8928..dfa0916efb 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/modules/lint/index.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/modules/lint/index.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ export function registerPackageCommands(command: Command) {
     .option('--fix', 'Attempt to automatically fix violations')
     .option(
       '--max-warnings <number>',
-      'Fail if more than this number of warnings. -1 allows warnings. (default: 0)',
+      'Fail if more than this number of warnings. -1 allows warnings. (default: -1)',
     )
     .description('Lint a package')
     .action(lazy(() => import('./commands/package/lint'), 'default'));
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ export function registerRepoCommands(command: Command) {
     )
     .option(
       '--max-warnings <number>',
-      'Fail if more than this number of warnings. -1 allows warnings. (default: 0)',
+      'Fail if more than this number of warnings. -1 allows warnings. (default: -1)',
     )
     .option('--fix', 'Attempt to automatically fix violations')
     .action(lazy(() => import('./commands/repo/lint'), 'command'));