diff --git a/otp.c b/otp.c
index 5a56b19..6f2ee64 100644
--- a/otp.c
+++ b/otp.c
@@ -244,13 +244,71 @@ int command_line_mode(int argc, char* argv[]) {
         return generate_pad_with_entropy(size, 1, 0);  // No keyboard entropy for command line
     }
     else if (strcmp(argv[1], "encrypt") == 0 || strcmp(argv[1], "-e") == 0) {
-        if (argc < 3 || argc > 4) {
-            printf("Usage: %s encrypt|-e <pad_chksum_or_prefix> [text_to_encrypt]\n", argv[0]);
+        if (argc < 2 || argc > 4) {
+            printf("Usage: %s encrypt|-e [pad_chksum_or_prefix] [text_to_encrypt]\n", argv[0]);
             return 1;
         }
-        // Pass text if provided, otherwise NULL for interactive mode
-        const char* text = (argc == 4) ? argv[3] : NULL;
-        return encrypt_text(argv[2], text);
+        
+        // Check if pad was specified or use default
+        const char* pad_identifier = NULL;
+        const char* text = NULL;
+        
+        if (argc == 2) {
+            // Just -e, use default pad, no text (interactive)
+            pad_identifier = NULL;
+            text = NULL;
+        } else if (argc == 3) {
+            // Could be -e <pad> or -e <text> (using default pad)
+            // Check if default pad is available to determine interpretation
+            char* default_pad = get_default_pad_path();
+            if (default_pad) {
+                // Default pad available, treat argument as text
+                pad_identifier = NULL;
+                text = argv[2];
+                free(default_pad);
+            } else {
+                // No default pad, treat as pad identifier
+                pad_identifier = argv[2];
+                text = NULL;
+            }
+        } else {
+            // argc == 4: -e <pad> <text>
+            pad_identifier = argv[2];
+            text = argv[3];
+        }
+        
+        // If pad_identifier is NULL, we need to use default pad
+        if (pad_identifier == NULL) {
+            char* default_pad = get_default_pad_path();
+            if (default_pad) {
+                // Extract checksum from default pad path
+                char* filename = strrchr(default_pad, '/');
+                if (!filename) filename = default_pad;
+                else filename++; // Skip the '/'
+                
+                // Extract checksum (remove .pad extension)
+                if (strlen(filename) >= 68 && strstr(filename, ".pad")) {
+                    static char default_checksum[65];
+                    strncpy(default_checksum, filename, 64);
+                    default_checksum[64] = '\0';
+                    pad_identifier = default_checksum;
+                }
+                free(default_pad);
+                
+                // Call encrypt_text and then comment about using default pad
+                int result = encrypt_text(pad_identifier, text);
+                if (result == 0) {
+                    printf("# Used default pad: %.16s...\n", pad_identifier);
+                }
+                return result;
+            } else {
+                printf("Error: No default pad configured. Specify pad explicitly or configure default pad.\n");
+                return 1;
+            }
+        } else {
+            // Explicit pad specified, normal operation
+            return encrypt_text(pad_identifier, text);
+        }
     }
     else if (strcmp(argv[1], "decrypt") == 0 || strcmp(argv[1], "-d") == 0) {
         if (argc == 2) {
@@ -3893,7 +3951,7 @@ void print_usage(const char* program_name) {
     printf("Usage:\n");
     printf("  %s                                         - Interactive mode\n", program_name);
     printf("  %s generate|-g <size>                      - Generate new pad\n", program_name);
-    printf("  %s encrypt|-e <pad_checksum_prefix> [text] - Encrypt text\n", program_name);
+    printf("  %s encrypt|-e [pad_checksum_prefix] [text] - Encrypt text\n", program_name);
     printf("  %s decrypt|-d [encrypted_message]          - Decrypt message\n", program_name);
     printf("  %s -f <file> <pad_prefix> [-a] [-o <out>]  - Encrypt file\n", program_name);
     printf("  %s list|-l                                 - List available pads\n", program_name);