diff --git a/tempest/cmd/run.py b/tempest/cmd/run.py
index a8ef08c475..823ed118b6 100644
--- a/tempest/cmd/run.py
+++ b/tempest/cmd/run.py
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ class TempestRun(command.Command):
                             default=False)
         # execution args
         parser.add_argument('--concurrency', '-w',
-                            type=int,
+                            type=int, default=0,
                             help="The number of workers to use, defaults to "
                                  "the number of cpus")
         parallel = parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group()