diff --git a/conf/example.conf.in b/conf/example.conf.in
index a78ed73..245973a 100644
--- a/conf/example.conf.in
+++ b/conf/example.conf.in
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ devices {
 	# Example
 	# preferred_names = [ "^/dev/mpath/", "^/dev/mapper/mpath", "^/dev/[hs]d" ]
 	#
-	# This configuration option does not have a default value defined.
+	preferred_names = [ "^/dev/mpath/", "^/dev/mapper/mpath", "^/dev/[hs]d" ]
 
 	# Configuration option devices/use_devicesfile.
 	# Enable or disable the use of a devices file.
diff --git a/lib/config/config_settings.h b/lib/config/config_settings.h
index d280e7a..ab7d0d5 100644
--- a/lib/config/config_settings.h
+++ b/lib/config/config_settings.h
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ cfg(devices_hints_CFG, "hints", devices_CFG_SECTION, CFG_DEFAULT_COMMENTED, CFG_
 	"    Use no hints.\n"
 	"#\n")
 
-cfg_array(devices_preferred_names_CFG, "preferred_names", devices_CFG_SECTION, CFG_ALLOW_EMPTY | CFG_DEFAULT_UNDEFINED , CFG_TYPE_STRING, NULL, vsn(1, 2, 19), NULL, 0, NULL,
+cfg_array(devices_preferred_names_CFG, "preferred_names", devices_CFG_SECTION, CFG_ALLOW_EMPTY, CFG_TYPE_STRING, "#S^/dev/mpath/#S^/dev/mapper/mpath#S^/dev/[hs]d", vsn(1, 2, 19), NULL, 0, NULL,
 	"Select which path name to display for a block device.\n"
 	"If multiple path names exist for a block device, and LVM needs to\n"
 	"display a name for the device, the path names are matched against\n"
-- 
1.8.3.1