diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/install.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/install.py
index 3f9a948a23..bc46e98395 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/install.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/install.py
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ def setup_parser(subparser):
         "--use-cache",
         action="store_true",
         dest="use_cache",
-        default=True,
+        default=False,
         help="check for pre-built Spack packages in mirrors (default)",
     )
     cache_group.add_argument(