diff --git a/.changeset/mean-papayas-share.md b/.changeset/mean-papayas-share.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4cf29b1a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/mean-papayas-share.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"task-master-ai": patch
+---
+
+Default to Cursor profile for MCP init when no rules specified
diff --git a/mcp-server/src/core/direct-functions/initialize-project.js b/mcp-server/src/core/direct-functions/initialize-project.js
index f6a2a8c2..d9e0cff9 100644
--- a/mcp-server/src/core/direct-functions/initialize-project.js
+++ b/mcp-server/src/core/direct-functions/initialize-project.js
@@ -72,15 +72,16 @@ export async function initializeProjectDirect(args, log, context = {}) {
 			yes: true // Force yes mode
 		};
 
-		// Handle rules option just like CLI
+		// Handle rules option with MCP-specific defaults
 		if (Array.isArray(args.rules) && args.rules.length > 0) {
 			options.rules = args.rules;
+			options.rulesExplicitlyProvided = true;
 			log.info(`Including rules: ${args.rules.join(', ')}`);
 		} else {
-			options.rules = RULE_PROFILES;
-			log.info(
-				`No rule profiles specified, defaulting to: ${RULE_PROFILES.join(', ')}`
-			);
+			// For MCP initialization, default to Cursor profile only
+			options.rules = ['cursor'];
+			options.rulesExplicitlyProvided = true;
+			log.info(`No rule profiles specified, defaulting to: Cursor`);
 		}
 
 		log.info(`Initializing project with options: ${JSON.stringify(options)}`);
diff --git a/mcp-server/src/tools/initialize-project.js b/mcp-server/src/tools/initialize-project.js
index 30ddf1a7..6bf380d6 100644
--- a/mcp-server/src/tools/initialize-project.js
+++ b/mcp-server/src/tools/initialize-project.js
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ export function registerInitializeProjectTool(server) {
 				.array(z.enum(RULE_PROFILES))
 				.optional()
 				.describe(
-					`List of rule profiles to include at initialization. If omitted, defaults to all available profiles. Available options: ${RULE_PROFILES.join(', ')}`
+					`List of rule profiles to include at initialization. If omitted, defaults to Cursor profile only. Available options: ${RULE_PROFILES.join(', ')}`
 				)
 		}),
 		execute: withNormalizedProjectRoot(async (args, context) => {