diff --git a/lib/src/command/add.dart b/lib/src/command/add.dart
index bc4c652cc..7bb02a1cc 100644
--- a/lib/src/command/add.dart
+++ b/lib/src/command/add.dart
@@ -153,6 +153,7 @@ For example:
     );
     argParser.addFlag(
       'example',
+      defaultsTo: true,
       help:
           'Also update dependencies in `example/` after modifying pubspec.yaml in the root package (if it exists).',
       hide: true,
diff --git a/lib/src/command/downgrade.dart b/lib/src/command/downgrade.dart
index b7411e4a0..e92b89462 100644
--- a/lib/src/command/downgrade.dart
+++ b/lib/src/command/downgrade.dart
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ class DowngradeCommand extends PubCommand {
 
     argParser.addFlag(
       'example',
+      defaultsTo: true,
       help: 'Also run in `example/` (if it exists).',
       hide: true,
     );
diff --git a/lib/src/command/get.dart b/lib/src/command/get.dart
index bdcc387c4..51419c139 100644
--- a/lib/src/command/get.dart
+++ b/lib/src/command/get.dart
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ class GetCommand extends PubCommand {
 
     argParser.addFlag(
       'example',
+      defaultsTo: true,
       help: 'Also run in `example/` (if it exists).',
       hide: true,
     );
diff --git a/lib/src/command/remove.dart b/lib/src/command/remove.dart
index c993cd003..a367588f6 100644
--- a/lib/src/command/remove.dart
+++ b/lib/src/command/remove.dart
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ To remove a dependency override of a package prefix the package name with
 
     argParser.addFlag(
       'example',
+      defaultsTo: true,
       help: 'Also update dependencies in `example/` (if it exists).',
       hide: true,
     );
diff --git a/lib/src/command/upgrade.dart b/lib/src/command/upgrade.dart
index 7efa66e7b..84fe11ef2 100644
--- a/lib/src/command/upgrade.dart
+++ b/lib/src/command/upgrade.dart
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ class UpgradeCommand extends PubCommand {
 
     argParser.addFlag(
       'example',
+      defaultsTo: true,
       help: 'Also run in `example/` (if it exists).',
       hide: true,
     );
diff --git a/test/get/gets_in_example_folder_test.dart b/test/get/gets_in_example_folder_test.dart
index c823303b9..f18daaeb5 100644
--- a/test/get/gets_in_example_folder_test.dart
+++ b/test/get/gets_in_example_folder_test.dart
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ void main() {
         ])
       ]).create();
 
-      await pubCommand(command, args: []);
+      await pubCommand(command, args: ['--no-example']);
       final lockFile = File(p.join(d.sandbox, appPath, 'pubspec.lock'));
       final exampleLockFile = File(
         p.join(d.sandbox, appPath, 'example', 'pubspec.lock'),
diff --git a/test/testdata/goldens/directory_option_test/commands taking a --directory~-C parameter work.txt b/test/testdata/goldens/directory_option_test/commands taking a --directory~-C parameter work.txt
index 5d45f56bb..272928397 100644
--- a/test/testdata/goldens/directory_option_test/commands taking a --directory~-C parameter work.txt	
+++ b/test/testdata/goldens/directory_option_test/commands taking a --directory~-C parameter work.txt	
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ $ pub add --directory=myapp foo
 Resolving dependencies in myapp...
 + foo 1.0.0
 Changed 1 dependency in myapp!
+Resolving dependencies in myapp/example...
+Got dependencies in myapp/example.
 
 -------------------------------- END OF OUTPUT ---------------------------------
 
@@ -13,6 +15,8 @@ $ pub -C myapp add bar
 Resolving dependencies in myapp...
 + bar 1.2.3
 Changed 1 dependency in myapp!
+Resolving dependencies in myapp/example...
+Got dependencies in myapp/example.
 
 -------------------------------- END OF OUTPUT ---------------------------------
 
@@ -20,6 +24,8 @@ Changed 1 dependency in myapp!
 $ pub -C 'myapp/example' get --directory=myapp bar
 Resolving dependencies in myapp...
 Got dependencies in myapp!
+Resolving dependencies in myapp/example...
+Got dependencies in myapp/example.
 
 -------------------------------- END OF OUTPUT ---------------------------------
 
@@ -29,6 +35,8 @@ Resolving dependencies in myapp...
 These packages are no longer being depended on:
 - bar 1.2.3
 Changed 1 dependency in myapp!
+Resolving dependencies in myapp/example...
+Got dependencies in myapp/example.
 
 -------------------------------- END OF OUTPUT ---------------------------------
 
@@ -36,15 +44,15 @@ Changed 1 dependency in myapp!
 $ pub get bar -C myapp
 Resolving dependencies in myapp...
 Got dependencies in myapp!
+Resolving dependencies in myapp/example...
+Got dependencies in myapp/example.
 
 -------------------------------- END OF OUTPUT ---------------------------------
 
 ## Section 5
 $ pub get bar -C 'myapp/example'
 Resolving dependencies in myapp/example...
-+ foo 1.0.0
-+ test_pkg 1.0.0 from path myapp
-Changed 2 dependencies in myapp/example!
+Got dependencies in myapp/example!
 
 -------------------------------- END OF OUTPUT ---------------------------------
 
@@ -72,6 +80,8 @@ $ pub downgrade -C myapp
 Resolving dependencies in myapp...
   foo 1.0.0
 No dependencies changed in myapp.
+Resolving dependencies in myapp/example...
+Got dependencies in myapp/example.
 
 -------------------------------- END OF OUTPUT ---------------------------------
 
@@ -80,6 +90,8 @@ $ pub upgrade bar -C myapp
 Resolving dependencies in myapp...
   foo 1.0.0
 No dependencies changed in myapp.
+Resolving dependencies in myapp/example...
+Got dependencies in myapp/example.
 
 -------------------------------- END OF OUTPUT ---------------------------------