diff --git a/src/axolotl/utils/config/models/input/v0_4_1/__init__.py b/src/axolotl/utils/config/models/input/v0_4_1/__init__.py
index 5892db1e7..2336bf983 100644
--- a/src/axolotl/utils/config/models/input/v0_4_1/__init__.py
+++ b/src/axolotl/utils/config/models/input/v0_4_1/__init__.py
@@ -710,7 +710,7 @@ class AxolotlInputConfig(
     chat_template: Union[
         ChatTemplate,
         Annotated[str, StringConstraints(pattern="^tokenizer_default_fallback_")],
-    ] = ChatTemplate.chatml
+    ] = ChatTemplate.tokenizer_default
     chat_template_jinja: Optional[str] = None
     default_system_message: Optional[str] = None