diff --git a/cmd/query/helpers.go b/cmd/query/helpers.go
index b6d09ad..405a188 100644
--- a/cmd/query/helpers.go
+++ b/cmd/query/helpers.go
@@ -23,11 +23,11 @@ func parseQueryID(arg string) (int, error) {
 func parsePerformance(cmd *cobra.Command) (string, error) {
 	performance, _ := cmd.Flags().GetString("performance")
 	switch performance {
-	case "small", "medium", "large", "free":
+	case "", "free", "medium", "large":
 		return performance, nil
 	default:
 		return "", fmt.Errorf(
-			"invalid performance tier %q: must be \"free\", \"small\", \"medium\" or \"large\"",
+			"invalid performance tier %q: must be \"free\", \"medium\" or \"large\"",
 			performance,
 		)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/query/run.go b/cmd/query/run.go
index 59ca16e..92cb52f 100644
--- a/cmd/query/run.go
+++ b/cmd/query/run.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ func newRunCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			"Use --no-wait to submit the execution and exit immediately with just the\n" +
 			"execution ID; then fetch results later with 'dune execution results <execution-id>'.\n\n" +
 			"Credits are consumed based on actual compute resources used. Use --performance\n" +
-			"with the tier name your plan exposes via the API (e.g. community plans often use \"free\").\n\n" +
+			"to override the tier; omit it to let the API auto-select based on your plan.\n\n" +
 			"Important: if the query targets tables with known partition columns (returned by\n" +
 			"'dune dataset search' or 'dune dataset search-by-contract'), ensure the SQL includes\n" +
 			"a WHERE filter on those partition columns (e.g. WHERE block_date >= CURRENT_DATE -\n" +
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ func newRunCmd() *cobra.Command {
 	}
 
 	cmd.Flags().StringArray("param", nil, "typed query parameter in key=value format (repeatable); supported types: text, number (stringified, e.g. '30'), datetime (YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm:ss), enum")
-	cmd.Flags().String("performance", "medium", `engine tier name (plan-specific; community often uses "free"): "free", "small", "medium" (default), or "large"; credits reflect actual compute`)
+	cmd.Flags().String("performance", "", `engine tier override: "free", "medium", or "large"; omit to let the API auto-select based on your plan`)
 	cmd.Flags().Int("limit", 0, "maximum number of result rows to return (0 = all available rows)")
 	cmd.Flags().Bool("no-wait", false, "submit the execution and exit immediately, printing only the execution ID and state")
 	cmd.Flags().Int("timeout", 300, "maximum seconds to wait for the execution to complete before timing out")
diff --git a/cmd/query/run_sql.go b/cmd/query/run_sql.go
index 8202841..1bf71d3 100644
--- a/cmd/query/run_sql.go
+++ b/cmd/query/run_sql.go
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ func newRunSQLCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			"saved query ID (e.g. for attaching visualizations).\n\n" +
 			"By default, waits for completion (polling every 2 seconds) and displays result rows.\n" +
 			"Use --no-wait to submit the execution and exit immediately with just the\n" +
-			"execution ID. Credits are consumed based on actual compute resources used.\n\n" +
+			"execution ID. Credits are consumed based on actual compute resources used.\n" +
+			"Use --performance to override the tier; omit it to let the API auto-select based on your plan.\n\n" +
 			"Important: if the SQL targets tables with known partition columns (returned by\n" +
 			"'dune dataset search' or 'dune dataset search-by-contract'), include a WHERE filter\n" +
 			"on those partition columns (e.g. WHERE block_date >= CURRENT_DATE - INTERVAL '7' DAY).\n" +
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ func newRunSQLCmd() *cobra.Command {
 	cmd.Flags().String("sql", "", "the SQL query text in DuneSQL dialect (required)")
 	_ = cmd.MarkFlagRequired("sql")
 	cmd.Flags().StringArray("param", nil, "typed query parameter in key=value format (repeatable); supported types: text, number (stringified, e.g. '30'), datetime (YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm:ss), enum")
-	cmd.Flags().String("performance", "medium", `engine tier name for the execution (plan-specific; community often uses "free"): "free", "small", "medium" (default), or "large"; credits reflect actual compute`)
+	cmd.Flags().String("performance", "", `engine tier override: "free", "medium", or "large"; omit to let the API auto-select based on your plan`)
 	cmd.Flags().Int("limit", 0, "maximum number of result rows to return (0 = all available rows)")
 	cmd.Flags().Bool("no-wait", false, "submit the execution and exit immediately, printing only the execution ID and state")
 	cmd.Flags().Int("timeout", 300, "maximum seconds to wait for the execution to complete before timing out")
diff --git a/cmd/query/run_sql_test.go b/cmd/query/run_sql_test.go
index 6b20013..c57df3c 100644
--- a/cmd/query/run_sql_test.go
+++ b/cmd/query/run_sql_test.go
@@ -91,6 +91,27 @@ func TestRunSQLWithParams(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, "30", captured.QueryParameters["days"])
 }
 
+func TestRunSQLDefaultPerformance(t *testing.T) {
+	var captured models.ExecuteSQLRequest
+	mock := &mockClient{
+		runSQLFn: func(req models.ExecuteSQLRequest) (dune.Execution, error) {
+			captured = req
+			return &mockExecution{
+				id: "01ABC",
+				waitGetResultsFn: func(_ time.Duration, _ int) (*models.ResultsResponse, error) {
+					return testResultsResponse, nil
+				},
+			}, nil
+		},
+	}
+
+	root, _ := newTestRoot(mock)
+	root.SetArgs([]string{"query", "run-sql", "--sql", "SELECT 1"})
+	require.NoError(t, root.Execute())
+
+	assert.Equal(t, "", captured.Performance)
+}
+
 func TestRunSQLWithPerformance(t *testing.T) {
 	var captured models.ExecuteSQLRequest
 	mock := &mockClient{
diff --git a/cmd/query/run_test.go b/cmd/query/run_test.go
index 613986c..03064e9 100644
--- a/cmd/query/run_test.go
+++ b/cmd/query/run_test.go
@@ -106,6 +106,27 @@ func TestRunWithParams(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, "30", captured.QueryParameters["days"])
 }
 
+func TestRunDefaultPerformance(t *testing.T) {
+	var captured models.ExecuteRequest
+	mock := &mockClient{
+		runQueryFn: func(req models.ExecuteRequest) (dune.Execution, error) {
+			captured = req
+			return &mockExecution{
+				id: "01ABC",
+				waitGetResultsFn: func(_ time.Duration, _ int) (*models.ResultsResponse, error) {
+					return testResultsResponse, nil
+				},
+			}, nil
+		},
+	}
+
+	root, _ := newTestRoot(mock)
+	root.SetArgs([]string{"query", "run", "4125432"})
+	require.NoError(t, root.Execute())
+
+	assert.Equal(t, "", captured.Performance)
+}
+
 func TestRunWithPerformance(t *testing.T) {
 	var captured models.ExecuteRequest
 	mock := &mockClient{