diff --git a/system/src/Grav/Common/Language/Language.php b/system/src/Grav/Common/Language/Language.php
index a1dea4ea6..ec3f6fef1 100644
--- a/system/src/Grav/Common/Language/Language.php
+++ b/system/src/Grav/Common/Language/Language.php
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ class Language
         if (isset($default) && $this->validate($default)) {
             $this->default = $default;
         } else {
-            $this->default = !empty($this->languages) ? reset($this->languages) : null;
+            $this->default = !empty($this->languages) ? reset($this->languages) : 'en';
         }
 
         $this->resetFallbackPageExtensions();