diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index c627ca9ef0..16792f19e2 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -106,6 +106,9 @@ No code changes (fixing Rust `Cargo.toml` stuff).
   defined template names when no argument is given, assisting the user in making
   a selection.
 
+* `ui.default-command` now accepts multiple string arguments, for more complex
+  default `jj` commands.
+
 ### Fixed bugs
 
 * On Windows, symlinks in the repo are now supported when Developer Mode is enabled.
diff --git a/cli/src/cli_util.rs b/cli/src/cli_util.rs
index 895ad69d61..eca195a123 100644
--- a/cli/src/cli_util.rs
+++ b/cli/src/cli_util.rs
@@ -2171,6 +2171,16 @@ impl ValueParserFactory for RevisionArg {
     }
 }
 
+fn get_string_or_array(
+    config: &config::Config,
+    key: &str,
+) -> Result<Vec<String>, config::ConfigError> {
+    config
+        .get(key)
+        .map(|string| vec![string])
+        .or_else(|_| config.get::<Vec<String>>(key))
+}
+
 fn resolve_default_command(
     ui: &Ui,
     config: &config::Config,
@@ -2194,7 +2204,8 @@ fn resolve_default_command(
 
     if let Some(matches) = matches {
         if matches.subcommand_name().is_none() {
-            if config.get_string("ui.default-command").is_err() {
+            let args = get_string_or_array(config, "ui.default-command");
+            if args.is_err() {
                 writeln!(
                     ui.hint(),
                     "Hint: Use `jj -h` for a list of available commands."
@@ -2204,11 +2215,10 @@ fn resolve_default_command(
                     "Run `jj config set --user ui.default-command log` to disable this message."
                 )?;
             }
-            let default_command = config
-                .get_string("ui.default-command")
-                .unwrap_or_else(|_| "log".to_string());
+            let default_command = args.unwrap_or_else(|_| vec!["log".to_string()]);
+
             // Insert the default command directly after the path to the binary.
-            string_args.insert(1, default_command);
+            string_args.splice(1..1, default_command);
         }
     }
     Ok(string_args)
diff --git a/cli/src/config-schema.json b/cli/src/config-schema.json
index 5c768a0189..29a0b3e552 100644
--- a/cli/src/config-schema.json
+++ b/cli/src/config-schema.json
@@ -44,7 +44,18 @@
                 "default-command": {
                     "type": "string",
                     "description": "Default command to run when no explicit command is given",
-                    "default": "log"
+                    "default": "log",
+                    "oneOf": [
+                        {
+                            "type": "string"
+                        },
+                        {
+                            "type": "array",
+                            "items": {
+                                "type": "string"
+                            }
+                        }
+                    ]
                 },
                 "default-description": {
                     "type": "string",
diff --git a/cli/tests/test_global_opts.rs b/cli/tests/test_global_opts.rs
index 3596460ed9..2cdea55749 100644
--- a/cli/tests/test_global_opts.rs
+++ b/cli/tests/test_global_opts.rs
@@ -101,6 +101,17 @@ fn test_no_subcommand() {
     │  (empty) (no description set)
     ~
     "###);
+
+    // Multiple default command strings work.
+    test_env.add_config(r#"ui.default-command=["commit", "-m", "foo"]"#);
+    test_env.jj_cmd_ok(&repo_path, &["new"]);
+    std::fs::write(repo_path.join("file.txt"), "file").unwrap();
+    let (stdout, stderr) = test_env.jj_cmd_ok(&repo_path, &[]);
+    assert_eq!(stdout, "");
+    insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
+    Working copy now at: kxryzmor 70ac3df3 (empty) (no description set)
+    Parent commit      : lylxulpl 9dbbb452 foo
+    "###);
 }
 
 #[test]