diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 29dd6b34b8..2d59f29811 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ make install
 
 * Install seid binary
 
-* Initialize node: `seid init <moniker> --chain-id sei-testnet-1`
+* Initialize node (use `--mode validator` so RPC/P2P bind to localhost): `seid init <moniker> --chain-id sei-testnet-1 --mode validator`
 
 * Download the Genesis file: `wget https://github.com/sei-protocol/testnet/raw/main/sei-testnet-1/genesis.json -P $HOME/.sei/config/`
  
diff --git a/cmd/seid/cmd/init.go b/cmd/seid/cmd/init.go
index fbce510aa8..c7a8fb4967 100644
--- a/cmd/seid/cmd/init.go
+++ b/cmd/seid/cmd/init.go
@@ -87,8 +87,9 @@ func InitCmd(mbm module.BasicManager, defaultNodeHome string) *cobra.Command {
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "init [moniker]",
 		Short: "Initialize private validator, p2p, genesis, and application configuration files",
-		Long:  `Initialize validators's and node's configuration files.`,
-		Args:  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
+		Long: `Initialize the node's configuration files. Default mode is "full" (RPC and P2P bind to all interfaces).
+For validator or seed nodes, pass --mode validator or --mode seed so RPC and P2P bind to localhost only.`,
+		Args: cobra.ExactArgs(1),
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			clientCtx := client.GetClientContextFromCmd(cmd)
 			cdc := clientCtx.Codec