diff --git a/aleksis/core/settings.py b/aleksis/core/settings.py
index ddbf513e2166ced43fbdab4c5605708e073becd3..4d1848c1c04f2e43c2972db22ca81dc9575ee1ac 100644
--- a/aleksis/core/settings.py
+++ b/aleksis/core/settings.py
@@ -788,7 +788,7 @@ SILENCED_SYSTEM_CHECKS.append("guardian.W001")
 # Append authentication backends
 AUTHENTICATION_BACKENDS.append("rules.permissions.ObjectPermissionBackend")
 
-HAYSTACK_BACKEND_SHORT = _settings.get("search.backend", "simple")
+HAYSTACK_BACKEND_SHORT = _settings.get("search.backend", "whoosh")
 
 if HAYSTACK_BACKEND_SHORT == "simple":
     HAYSTACK_CONNECTIONS = {