diff --git a/weed/command/admin.go b/weed/command/admin.go
index b90dd64c6..f823507bc 100644
--- a/weed/command/admin.go
+++ b/weed/command/admin.go
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ func init() {
 	a.grpcPort = cmdAdmin.Flag.Int("port.grpc", 0, "gRPC server port for worker connections (default: http port + 10000)")
 	a.master = cmdAdmin.Flag.String("master", "localhost:9333", "comma-separated master servers")
 	a.masters = cmdAdmin.Flag.String("masters", "", "comma-separated master servers (deprecated, use -master instead)")
-	a.dataDir = cmdAdmin.Flag.String("dataDir", "", "directory to store admin configuration and data files")
+	a.dataDir = cmdAdmin.Flag.String("dataDir", ".", "directory to store admin configuration and data files (default current dir; required for maintenance task state to persist)")
 
 	a.adminUser = cmdAdmin.Flag.String("adminUser", "admin", "admin interface username")
 	a.adminPassword = cmdAdmin.Flag.String("adminPassword", "", "admin interface password (if empty, auth is disabled)")
@@ -248,7 +248,6 @@ func runAdmin(cmd *Command, args []string) bool {
 		fmt.Println("WARNING: Admin interface is running without authentication!")
 		fmt.Println("         Set -adminPassword for production use")
 	}
-
 	fmt.Printf("Starting SeaweedFS Admin Interface on port %d\n", *a.port)
 	fmt.Printf("Worker gRPC server will run on port %d\n", *a.grpcPort)
 	fmt.Printf("Masters: %s\n", *a.master)