diff --git a/console-server.c b/console-server.c
index c73ebb7..0a0477d 100644
--- a/console-server.c
+++ b/console-server.c
@@ -409,11 +409,6 @@
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (!resolved_id) {
-		warnx("console-id was not specified");
-		return EXIT_FAILURE;
-	}
-
 	console->console_id = resolved_id;
 
 	/* Get the socket name/path */
diff --git a/console-socket.c b/console-socket.c
index e78cfe0..d535182 100644
--- a/console-socket.c
+++ b/console-socket.c
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 #include "console-server.h"
 
+#include <err.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <limits.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
@@ -32,14 +33,12 @@
 {
 	ssize_t rc;
 
-	if (id) {
-		rc = snprintf(sun_path + 1, sizeof(socket_path_t) - 1,
-			      CONSOLE_SOCKET_PREFIX ".%s", id);
-	} else {
-		rc = snprintf(sun_path + 1, sizeof(socket_path_t) - 1,
-			      CONSOLE_SOCKET_PREFIX);
+	if (!id) {
+		id = "default";
 	}
 
+	rc = snprintf(sun_path + 1, sizeof(socket_path_t) - 1,
+		      CONSOLE_SOCKET_PREFIX ".%s", id);
 	if (rc < 0) {
 		return rc;
 	}