diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/audioengine.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/audioengine.h
index ddffd1d5c0..45257d8129 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/audioengine.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/audioengine.h
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ public:
     int discover_backends();
     std::vector<const AudioBackendInfo*> available_backends() const;
     std::string current_backend_name () const;
+    boost::shared_ptr<AudioBackend> set_default_backend ();
     boost::shared_ptr<AudioBackend> set_backend (const std::string&, const std::string& arg1, const std::string& arg2);
     boost::shared_ptr<AudioBackend> current_backend() const { return _backend; }
     bool setup_required () const;
diff --git a/libs/ardour/audioengine.cc b/libs/ardour/audioengine.cc
index f79c90feea..a9956666d8 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/audioengine.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/audioengine.cc
@@ -557,6 +557,16 @@ AudioEngine::drop_backend ()
 	}
 }
 
+boost::shared_ptr<AudioBackend>
+AudioEngine::set_default_backend ()
+{
+	if (_backends.empty()) {
+		return boost::shared_ptr<AudioBackend>();
+	}
+
+	return set_backend (_backends.begin()->first, "", "");
+}
+
 boost::shared_ptr<AudioBackend>
 AudioEngine::set_backend (const std::string& name, const std::string& arg1, const std::string& arg2)
 {