diff --git a/include/swupd.h b/include/swupd.h
index d038489..b45f46e 100644
--- a/include/swupd.h
+++ b/include/swupd.h
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 // SWUPD_NUM_PACKS is also "PREV_CHECK" in releas tool swupd_bb.py (change both)
 #define SWUPD_NUM_PACKS 4
 #define SWUPD_NUM_MANIFEST_DELTAS 25
-#define SWUPD_DEFAULT_FORMAT 3
 
 #define SWUPD_SERVER_STATE_DIR "/var/lib/update"
 
diff --git a/src/globals.c b/src/globals.c
index 214c4d8..587419b 100644
--- a/src/globals.c
+++ b/src/globals.c
@@ -79,7 +79,8 @@ bool set_state_dir(char *dir)
 bool init_globals(void)
 {
 	if (format == -1) {
-		format = SWUPD_DEFAULT_FORMAT;
+		printf("Error: Missing format parameter. Please specify a format with -F.\n");
+		return false;
 	}
 
 	if (!init_state_globals()) {
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index a23a05e..b479fc2 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ static void print_help(const char *name)
 	printf("Application Options:\n");
 	printf("   -o, --osversion         The OS version for which to create an update\n");
 	printf("   -m, --minversion        Optional minimum file version to write into manifests per file\n");
-	printf("   -F, --format            Optional format string [ default:=%d ]\n", SWUPD_DEFAULT_FORMAT);
+	printf("   -F, --format            Format number for the update\n");
 	printf("   -g, --getformat         Print current format string and exit\n");
 	printf("   -S, --statedir          Optional directory to use for state [ default:=%s ]\n", SWUPD_SERVER_STATE_DIR);
 	printf("   -s, --signcontent       Enables cryptographic signing of update content\n");
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ static bool parse_options(int argc, char **argv)
 			break;
 		case 'g':
 			if (format == -1) {
-				printf("%d\n", SWUPD_DEFAULT_FORMAT);
+				printf("No format specified\n");
 			} else {
 				printf("%llu\n", format);
 				free_globals();