diff --git a/lib/ceilometer b/lib/ceilometer
index 8768122bab..46e4624d49 100644
--- a/lib/ceilometer
+++ b/lib/ceilometer
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ CEILOMETER_AUTH_CACHE_DIR=${CEILOMETER_AUTH_CACHE_DIR:-/var/cache/ceilometer}
 CEILOMETER_BIN_DIR=$(get_python_exec_prefix)
 
 # Set up database backend
-CEILOMETER_BACKEND=${CEILOMETER_BACKEND:-mongodb}
+CEILOMETER_BACKEND=${CEILOMETER_BACKEND:-mysql}
 
 # Functions
 # ---------