diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/gpg.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/gpg.py
index 6073212c862..bf42eff48f8 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/gpg.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/gpg.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def setup_parser(subparser):
 
     list = subparsers.add_parser('list')
     list.add_argument('--trusted', action='store_true',
-                      help='list trusted keys')
+                      default=True, help='list trusted keys')
     list.add_argument('--signing', action='store_true',
                       help='list keys which may be used for signing')
     list.set_defaults(func=gpg_list)
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/gpg.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/gpg.py
index 2ceb0852e95..66e197ccd68 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/gpg.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/gpg.py
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ def test_gpg(gpg, tmpdir, testing_gpg_directory):
 
     # List the keys.
     # TODO: Test the output here.
+    gpg('list')
     gpg('list', '--trusted')
     gpg('list', '--signing')