diff --git a/.changeset/large-mirrors-bathe.md b/.changeset/large-mirrors-bathe.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e17e859256
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/large-mirrors-bathe.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@definitelytyped/utils": patch
+---
+
+Fix missing dist-tag in deprecated package publish
diff --git a/packages/utils/src/npm.ts b/packages/utils/src/npm.ts
index 708e06781d..a1bed575c1 100644
--- a/packages/utils/src/npm.ts
+++ b/packages/utils/src/npm.ts
@@ -15,12 +15,12 @@ export interface NpmPublishClientConfig {
 
 export class NpmPublishClient {
   static async create(token: string, config: NpmPublishClientConfig = {}): Promise<NpmPublishClient> {
-    return new NpmPublishClient(token, config.defaultTag);
+    return new NpmPublishClient(token, config.defaultTag ?? "latest");
   }
 
   private constructor(
     private readonly token: string,
-    private readonly defaultTag: string | undefined,
+    private readonly defaultTag: string,
   ) {}
 
   async publish(