diff --git a/osism/commands/manage.py b/osism/commands/manage.py
index 1d2a53e1..655783b7 100644
--- a/osism/commands/manage.py
+++ b/osism/commands/manage.py
@@ -531,7 +531,7 @@ def get_parser(self, prog_name):
             action="store_true",
         )
         parser.add_argument(
-            "--cloud", type=str, help="Cloud name in clouds.yaml", default="openstack"
+            "--cloud", type=str, help="Cloud name in clouds.yaml", default="admin"
         )
         parser.add_argument(
             "--filter",
diff --git a/tests/unit/commands/test_manage_wiring.py b/tests/unit/commands/test_manage_wiring.py
index 79e42fad..8721cb69 100644
--- a/tests/unit/commands/test_manage_wiring.py
+++ b/tests/unit/commands/test_manage_wiring.py
@@ -29,6 +29,15 @@ def _stub_args(**overrides) -> MagicMock:
     return args
 
 
+def test_images_cloud_default_matches_shipped_profile():
+    # The shipped cfg-cookiecutter clouds.yml provides 'admin' (not 'openstack'),
+    # so a bare `osism manage images` must default to a profile that exists.
+    cmd = manage.Images(MagicMock(), MagicMock())
+    parser = cmd.get_parser("manage images")
+    args = parser.parse_args([])
+    assert args.cloud == "admin"
+
+
 def test_w1_octavia_wires_validators_to_call_sites():
     cmd = manage.ImageOctavia(MagicMock(), MagicMock())
     args = _stub_args()