diff --git a/virtualenv.py b/virtualenv.py

index d1a344a..1d46506 100755

--- a/virtualenv.py

+++ b/virtualenv.py

@@ -613,7 +613,6 @@ def main():

     parser.add_option(

         "--download",

         dest="download",

-        default=True,

         action="store_true",

         help="Download preinstalled packages from PyPI.",

     )