diff --git a/examples/common/env.sh b/examples/common/env.sh
index 50df4a65296..8b717f4df3a 100644
--- a/examples/common/env.sh
+++ b/examples/common/env.sh
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ mkdir -p "${VTDATAROOT}/tmp"
 # In your own environment you may prefer to use config files,
 # such as ~/.my.cnf
 
-alias mysql="command mysql --no-defaults -h 127.0.0.1 -P 15306"
+alias mysql="command mysql --no-defaults -h 127.0.0.1 -P 15306 --binary-as-hex=false"
 alias vtctldclient="command vtctldclient --server localhost:15999"
 
 # If using bash, make sure aliases are expanded in non-interactive shell