diff --git a/messages/deploy.metadata.validate.md b/messages/deploy.metadata.validate.md
index 506ccfa7..ca3b54ce 100644
--- a/messages/deploy.metadata.validate.md
+++ b/messages/deploy.metadata.validate.md
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ Valid values are:
 
 - RunSpecifiedTests — Runs only the tests that you specify with the --tests flag. Code coverage requirements differ from the default coverage requirements when using this test level. Executed tests must comprise a minimum of 75% code coverage for each class and trigger in the deployment package. This coverage is computed for each class and trigger individually and is different than the overall coverage percentage.
 
-- RunLocalTests — All tests in your org are run, except the ones that originate from installed managed and unlocked packages. This test level is the default.
+- RunLocalTests — All tests in your org are run, except the ones that originate from installed managed and unlocked packages. This test level is the default, unless you specify --tests, in which case the default is RunSpecifiedTests.
 
 - RunAllTestsInOrg — All tests in your org are run, including tests of managed packages.
 
diff --git a/src/commands/project/deploy/validate.ts b/src/commands/project/deploy/validate.ts
index bc4b65c7..4636e826 100644
--- a/src/commands/project/deploy/validate.ts
+++ b/src/commands/project/deploy/validate.ts
@@ -102,7 +102,8 @@ export default class DeployMetadataValidate extends SfCommand<DeployResultJson>
         TestLevel.RunSpecifiedTests,
         TestLevel.RunRelevantTests,
       ],
-      default: TestLevel.RunLocalTests,
+      default: async (context) =>
+        Promise.resolve(context.flags.tests ? TestLevel.RunSpecifiedTests : TestLevel.RunLocalTests),
       description: messages.getMessage('flags.test-level.description'),
       summary: messages.getMessage('flags.test-level.summary'),
       helpGroup: testFlags,