diff --git a/mininet/node.py b/mininet/node.py
index 9db22b498e850486810252bfb6724e1460de1f9b..9e50319eda74a1b27d927ec9b9775a7bb96c0b05 100644
--- a/mininet/node.py
+++ b/mininet/node.py
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ def sendCmd( self, *args, **kwargs ):
            args: command and arguments, or string
            printPid: print command's PID?"""
         assert not self.waiting
-        printPid = kwargs.get( 'printPid', False )
+        printPid = kwargs.get( 'printPid', True )
         # Allow sendCmd( [ list ] )
         if len( args ) == 1 and type( args[ 0 ] ) is list:
             cmd = args[ 0 ]