diff --git a/toot/api.py b/toot/api.py
index 3509f47..01dcc74 100644
--- a/toot/api.py
+++ b/toot/api.py
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ def post_status(
     app,
     user,
     status,
-    visibility='public',
+    visibility=None,
     media_ids=None,
     sensitive=False,
     spoiler_text=None,
diff --git a/toot/cli/post.py b/toot/cli/post.py
index afcfa4e..8d54dd1 100644
--- a/toot/cli/post.py
+++ b/toot/cli/post.py
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ from toot.utils.datetime import parse_datetime
     "--visibility", "-v",
     help="Post visibility",
     type=click.Choice(VISIBILITY_CHOICES),
-    default="public",
 )
 @click.option(
     "--sensitive", "-s",
@@ -119,7 +118,7 @@ def post(
     media: Tuple[str],
     descriptions: Tuple[str],
     thumbnails: Tuple[str],
-    visibility: str,
+    visibility: Optional[str],
     sensitive: bool,
     spoiler_text: Optional[str],
     reply_to: Optional[str],