diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/tools/StandaloneSplitter.java b/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/tools/StandaloneSplitter.java
index 1ce94be759..4876a4e7f2 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/tools/StandaloneSplitter.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/tools/StandaloneSplitter.java
@@ -211,6 +211,7 @@ public class StandaloneSplitter
                 opts.debug = cmd.hasOption(DEBUG_OPTION);
                 opts.verbose = cmd.hasOption(VERBOSE_OPTION);
                 opts.snapshot = !cmd.hasOption(NO_SNAPSHOT_OPTION);
+                opts.sizeInMB = DEFAULT_SSTABLE_SIZE;
 
                 if (cmd.hasOption(SIZE_OPTION))
                     opts.sizeInMB = Integer.valueOf(cmd.getOptionValue(SIZE_OPTION));