diff --git a/ansible/roles/zeam/defaults/main.yml b/ansible/roles/zeam/defaults/main.yml
index 71a2d69..7959f35 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/zeam/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/zeam/defaults/main.yml
@@ -7,8 +7,9 @@ zeam_docker_image: "blockblaz/zeam:devnet3"
 zeam_binary_path: "{{ playbook_dir }}/../zig-out/bin/zeam"
 deployment_mode: docker  # docker or binary
 
-# Global zeam CLI flags before `node` (keep in sync with client-cmds/zeam-cmd.sh zeam_global_flags)
-zeam_global_flags: "--console-log-level debug"
+# Global zeam CLI flags before `node`. Empty by default: published devnet3 image lacks these options.
+# Override when using a zeam build that supports them, e.g. "--console-log-level debug"
+zeam_global_flags: ""
 
 # These should be passed from the playbook
 node_name: ""
diff --git a/client-cmds/zeam-cmd.sh b/client-cmds/zeam-cmd.sh
index 80cdad2..9a31a25 100644
--- a/client-cmds/zeam-cmd.sh
+++ b/client-cmds/zeam-cmd.sh
@@ -6,8 +6,10 @@
 # Metrics enabled by default
 metrics_flag="--metrics_enable"
 
-# Global zeam CLI flags (must appear before the `node` subcommand)
-zeam_global_flags="--console-log-level debug"
+# Optional global zeam CLI flags before `node` (e.g. --console-log-level debug).
+# Default empty: blockblaz/zeam:devnet3 and older binaries do not support top-level log flags.
+# With a current zeam build: export ZEAM_GLOBAL_FLAGS='--console-log-level debug'
+zeam_global_flags="${ZEAM_GLOBAL_FLAGS:-}"
 
 # Set aggregator flag based on isAggregator value
 aggregator_flag=""