diff --git a/src/batdetect2/cli/inference.py b/src/batdetect2/cli/inference.py
index baa7b41..c5e189b 100644
--- a/src/batdetect2/cli/inference.py
+++ b/src/batdetect2/cli/inference.py
@@ -84,10 +84,10 @@ def common_predict_options(func):
         "--format",
         "format_name",
         type=str,
-        default="batdetect2",
         help=(
             "Output format name used by the prediction writer. If omitted, "
-            "the config default is used."
+            "the loaded outputs config is used, or batdetect2 when no "
+            "outputs config is provided."
         ),
     )
     @click.option(
@@ -187,6 +187,9 @@ def _run_prediction(
     if audio_dir is None:
         audio_dir = audio_files[0].parent if audio_files else None
 
+    if format_name is None and outputs_conf is None:
+        format_name = "batdetect2"
+
     api.save_predictions(
         predictions,
         path=output_path,
diff --git a/tests/test_cli/test_predict.py b/tests/test_cli/test_predict.py
index 5b10bb8..1f72a71 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli/test_predict.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli/test_predict.py
@@ -209,6 +209,38 @@ def test_cli_process_directory_batdetect2_writes_cnn_features_csv_when_enabled(
     ]
 
 
+def test_cli_process_directory_defaults_to_batdetect2_without_output_options(
+    tmp_path: Path,
+    tiny_checkpoint_path: Path,
+    single_audio_dir: Path,
+) -> None:
+    """User story: default process output stays batdetect2 for CLI users."""
+
+    output_path = tmp_path / "predictions"
+
+    result = CliRunner().invoke(
+        cli,
+        [
+            "process",
+            "directory",
+            "--model",
+            str(tiny_checkpoint_path),
+            str(single_audio_dir),
+            str(output_path),
+            "--batch-size",
+            "1",
+            "--workers",
+            "0",
+        ],
+    )
+
+    assert result.exit_code == 0
+    assert output_path.exists()
+    assert len(list(output_path.glob("*.json"))) == 1
+    assert len(list(output_path.glob("*.csv"))) == 1
+    assert len(list(output_path.glob("*.nc"))) == 0
+
+
 def test_cli_process_file_list_runs_on_real_audio(
     tmp_path: Path,
     tiny_checkpoint_path: Path,