diff --git a/options-table.c b/options-table.c
index ad30ab79a..34f443d02 100644
--- a/options-table.c
+++ b/options-table.c
@@ -1151,7 +1151,7 @@ const struct options_table_entry options_table[] = {
 	{ .name = "pane-status-current-style",
 	  .type = OPTIONS_TABLE_STRING,
 	  .scope = OPTIONS_TABLE_WINDOW,
-	  .default_str = "default",
+	  .default_str = "underscore",
 	  .flags = OPTIONS_TABLE_IS_STYLE,
 	  .separator = ",",
 	  .text = "Style of the current pane in the status line."
@@ -1204,7 +1204,7 @@ const struct options_table_entry options_table[] = {
 	{ .name = "session-status-current-style",
 	  .type = OPTIONS_TABLE_STRING,
 	  .scope = OPTIONS_TABLE_WINDOW,
-	  .default_str = "default",
+	  .default_str = "underscore",
 	  .flags = OPTIONS_TABLE_IS_STYLE,
 	  .separator = ",",
 	  .text = "Style of the current session in the status line."
@@ -1802,7 +1802,7 @@ const struct options_table_entry options_table[] = {
 	{ .name = "window-status-current-style",
 	  .type = OPTIONS_TABLE_STRING,
 	  .scope = OPTIONS_TABLE_WINDOW,
-	  .default_str = "default",
+	  .default_str = "underscore",
 	  .flags = OPTIONS_TABLE_IS_STYLE,
 	  .separator = ",",
 	  .text = "Style of the current window in the status line."