diff --git a/cmd/internal/flags/flags.go b/cmd/internal/flags/flags.go
index d9d6256c..232edbd4 100644
--- a/cmd/internal/flags/flags.go
+++ b/cmd/internal/flags/flags.go
@@ -113,8 +113,6 @@ func UpdateBuildConfig(conf *build.Config) error {
 	if err := UpdateConfig(conf); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-
-	// Validate and set build mode
 	if err := build.ValidateBuildMode(BuildMode); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/internal/build/build.go b/internal/build/build.go
index c28b70c5..b20af7f6 100644
--- a/internal/build/build.go
+++ b/internal/build/build.go
@@ -195,6 +195,9 @@ func Do(args []string, conf *Config) ([]Package, error) {
 	if conf.AppExt == "" {
 		conf.AppExt = defaultAppExt(conf)
 	}
+	if conf.BuildMode == "" {
+		conf.BuildMode = BuildModeExe
+	}
 	// Handle crosscompile configuration first to set correct GOOS/GOARCH
 	forceEspClang := conf.ForceEspClang || conf.Target != ""
 	export, err := crosscompile.Use(conf.Goos, conf.Goarch, conf.Target, IsWasiThreadsEnabled(), forceEspClang)