diff --git a/debian/scripts/misc/annotations b/debian/scripts/misc/annotations
index e10fce49a566..78a8486097b7 100755
--- a/debian/scripts/misc/annotations
+++ b/debian/scripts/misc/annotations
@@ -31,13 +31,13 @@ def make_parser():
                         help='Select flavour (default is "generic")')
     parser.add_argument('--config', '-c', action='store',
                         help='Select a specific config option')
+    parser.add_argument('--query', '-q', action='store_true',
+                        help='Query annotations')
 
-    ga = parser.add_argument_group(title='Action').add_mutually_exclusive_group(required=True)
+    ga = parser.add_argument_group(title='Action').add_mutually_exclusive_group(required=False)
     ga.add_argument('--write', '-w', action='store',
                         metavar='VALUE', dest='value',
                         help='Set a specific config value in annotations (use \'null\' to remove)')
-    ga.add_argument('--query', '-q', action='store_true',
-                        help='Query annotations')
     ga.add_argument('--note', '-n', action='store',
                         help='Write a specific note to a config option in annotations')
     ga.add_argument('--export', '-e', action='store_true',
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ def main():
         do_update(args)
     elif args.check_file:
         do_check(args)
-    elif args.query:
+    else:
         do_query(args)
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':