diff --git a/packages/vm/test/t8n/helpers.ts b/packages/vm/test/t8n/helpers.ts
index 3e2ee56752..54a8f697f8 100644
--- a/packages/vm/test/t8n/helpers.ts
+++ b/packages/vm/test/t8n/helpers.ts
@@ -54,6 +54,11 @@ export function getArguments() {
       type: 'string',
       demandOption: true,
     })
+    .option('output.body', {
+      deprecate: true,
+      description: 'File to write transaction RLPs to (currently unused)',
+      type: 'string',
+    })
     .option('log', {
       describe: 'Optionally write light-trace logs to stdout',
       type: 'boolean',