diff --git a/src/host_console.cpp b/src/host_console.cpp
index b4fe511..3eb5d30 100644
--- a/src/host_console.cpp
+++ b/src/host_console.cpp
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@
  * @brief Base path to the console's socket.
  *        See obmc-console for details.
  */
-static constexpr char socketPath[] = "\0obmc-console.default";
+static constexpr char socketPath[] = "\0obmc-console";
+static constexpr std::string defaultSocketId = "default";
 
 HostConsole::HostConsole(const std::string& socketId) :
     socketId(socketId), socketFd(-1)
@@ -54,11 +55,15 @@
 
     // Construct path to the socket file (see obmc-console for details)
     std::string path(socketPath, socketPath + sizeof(socketPath) - 1);
+    path += '.';
     if (!socketId.empty())
     {
-        path += '.';
         path += socketId;
     }
+    else
+    {
+        path += defaultSocketId;
+    }
     if (path.length() > sizeof(sockaddr_un::sun_path))
     {
         throw std::invalid_argument("Invalid socket ID");
diff --git a/test/host_console_test.cpp b/test/host_console_test.cpp
index 6334e24..6a16148 100644
--- a/test/host_console_test.cpp
+++ b/test/host_console_test.cpp
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@
 
 #include <gtest/gtest.h>
 
-static constexpr char socketPath[] = "\0obmc-console.default";
+static constexpr char socketPath[] = "\0obmc-console";
+static constexpr std::string defaultSocketId = "default";
 
 /**
  * @class HostConsoleTest
@@ -23,11 +24,15 @@
         serverSocket = socket(AF_UNIX, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
         ASSERT_NE(serverSocket, -1);
         std::string path(socketPath, socketPath + sizeof(socketPath) - 1);
+        path += '.';
         if (*socketId)
         {
-            path += '.';
             path += socketId;
         }
+        else
+        {
+            path += defaultSocketId;
+        }
         sockaddr_un sa;
         sa.sun_family = AF_UNIX;
         memcpy(&sa.sun_path, path.c_str(), path.length());