diff --git a/lib/gnutls_priority.c b/lib/gnutls_priority.c
index 769eed1..3a94b20 100644
--- a/lib/gnutls_priority.c
+++ b/lib/gnutls_priority.c
@@ -1107,6 +1107,7 @@ gnutls_priority_init(gnutls_priority_t * priority_cache,
 	int algo;
 	rmadd_func *fn;
 	bulk_rmadd_func *bulk_fn;
+	unsigned dset = 0;
 
 	*priority_cache =
 	    gnutls_calloc(1, sizeof(struct gnutls_priority_st));
@@ -1126,10 +1127,16 @@ gnutls_priority_init(gnutls_priority_t * priority_cache,
 
 	(*priority_cache)->max_empty_records = DEFAULT_MAX_EMPTY_RECORDS;
 
-	if (priorities == NULL)
-		priorities = "NORMAL";
+	if (priorities == NULL) {
+		priorities = "@SYSTEM";
+		dset = 1;
+	}
 
 	darg = resolve_priorities(priorities);
+	if (darg == NULL && dset == 1) {
+		priorities = "NORMAL";
+		darg = resolve_priorities(priorities);
+	}
 	if (darg == NULL) {
 		gnutls_assert();
 		goto error;