diff --git a/packages/taucmdr/cli/commands/initialize.py b/packages/taucmdr/cli/commands/initialize.py
index eaf03e5180..3732f6f7d9 100644
--- a/packages/taucmdr/cli/commands/initialize.py
+++ b/packages/taucmdr/cli/commands/initialize.py
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ def _default_target_name():
         # Override model defaults so measurements are created unless explicitly disabled
         measurement_group['--source-inst'].default = 'automatic'
         measurement_group['--profile'].default = 'tau'
-        measurement_group['--trace'].default = 'slog2'
+        measurement_group['--trace'].default = 'otf2'
         measurement_group['--sample'].default = True
         return parser
 
diff --git a/packages/taucmdr/model/measurement.py b/packages/taucmdr/model/measurement.py
index 9eebbae57c..06662b4da6 100644
--- a/packages/taucmdr/model/measurement.py
+++ b/packages/taucmdr/model/measurement.py
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ def _discourage_callpath(lhs, lhs_attr, lhs_value, rhs):
                          'metavar': '<format>',
                          'nargs': '?',
                          'choices':('slog2', 'otf2', 'none'),
-                         'const': 'slog2'},
+                         'const': 'otf2'},
             'compat': {'otf2': Target.exclude('libotf2_source', None),
                        lambda x: x != 'none': _discourage_callpath}
         },