diff --git a/docs/COMMAND_REFERENCE.md b/docs/COMMAND_REFERENCE.md
index 94da824..498f9cb 100644
--- a/docs/COMMAND_REFERENCE.md
+++ b/docs/COMMAND_REFERENCE.md
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ workato workspace
 workato init                        # Initialize CLI configuration
 workato workspace                   # Show current workspace info
 workato pull                       # Pull latest from remote
-workato push [--restart-recipes]   # Push local changes
+workato push [--restart-recipes]   # Push local changes (recipes won't restart by default)
 ```
 
 ### Recipe Management
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ workato init  # Creates profile interactively
 
 # Development
 workato recipes validate --path ./recipe.json
-workato push --restart-recipes
+workato push --restart-recipes  # Only restarts running recipes that were updated
 workato recipes list --running
 
 # Switch environments
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ workato connections get-oauth-url --id 789
 
 ## Environment Support
 
-**Trial Accounts:** Use `wrkatrial-` tokens with `https://app.trial.workato.com/api` 
+**Trial Accounts:** Use `wrkatrial-` tokens with `https://app.trial.workato.com/api`
 
 **Production Accounts:** Use `wrkprod-` tokens with `https://www.workato.com/api`
 
diff --git a/docs/USE_CASES.md b/docs/USE_CASES.md
index b7af7f8..5cb1e26 100644
--- a/docs/USE_CASES.md
+++ b/docs/USE_CASES.md
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ Build and validate integration recipes locally before deployment to avoid produc
 #### Commands
 ```bash
 workato recipes validate --path ./recipes/salesforce-sync.json
-workato push --restart-recipes
+workato push --restart-recipes  # Only restarts running recipes that were updated
 ```
 
 ### Multi-Environment Management
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ workato push
 # Staging
 workato profiles use staging
 workato pull
-workato push --restart-recipes
+workato push --restart-recipes  # Only restarts running recipes that were updated
 
 # Production
 workato profiles use production
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ Automate recipe deployment as part of build and release pipelines.
 ```bash
 # In CI pipeline
 workato recipes validate --path ./recipes/*.json
-workato push --restart-recipes --include-tags
+workato push --restart-recipes --include-tags  # Only restarts running recipes that were updated
 ```
 
 ### Recipe Lifecycle Management
diff --git a/src/workato_platform_cli/cli/commands/push/command.py b/src/workato_platform_cli/cli/commands/push/command.py
index 616ab3f..a3f708c 100644
--- a/src/workato_platform_cli/cli/commands/push/command.py
+++ b/src/workato_platform_cli/cli/commands/push/command.py
@@ -60,7 +60,11 @@
 
 @click.command()
 @click.option(
-    "--restart-recipes", is_flag=True, default=True, help="Restart recipes after import"
+    "--restart-recipes",
+    is_flag=True,
+    default=False,
+    help="Allow restarting of running recipes that are updated during import. "
+    "Stopped recipes will remain stopped.",
 )
 @click.option(
     "--include-tags", is_flag=True, default=True, help="Include tags in import"
@@ -68,7 +72,7 @@
 @inject
 @handle_api_exceptions
 async def push(
-    restart_recipes: bool = True,
+    restart_recipes: bool = False,
     include_tags: bool = True,
     config_manager: ConfigManager = Provide[Container.config_manager],
 ) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/unit/commands/push/test_command.py b/tests/unit/commands/push/test_command.py
index 37c7ca7..5fab3e1 100644
--- a/tests/unit/commands/push/test_command.py
+++ b/tests/unit/commands/push/test_command.py
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ async def fake_upload(**kwargs: object) -> None:
     assert upload_mock.await_count == 1
     call_kwargs = upload_calls[0]
     assert call_kwargs["folder_id"] == 777
-    assert call_kwargs["restart_recipes"] is True
+    assert call_kwargs["restart_recipes"] is False
     assert call_kwargs["include_tags"] is True
     assert not (tmp_path / "demo.zip").exists()
     assert any("Package created" in line for line in capture_echo)