diff --git a/src/common/options.c b/src/common/options.c
--- a/src/common/options.c
+++ b/src/common/options.c
@@ -85,7 +85,8 @@ int options_init(int argc, char *argv[],
       return 1;
     }
   memset((*allopts)->remoteio, '\0', sizeof(struct remoteio_opts));
-  
+  (*allopts)->remoteio->ssh_command = strdup("ssh");
+  /** @TODO: check for NULL return above */
   
   cfg_opt_t common_opts[] =
     {