diff --git a/api/handlers.go b/api/handlers.go
index 6cb82f5714..4d6d0a8df6 100644
--- a/api/handlers.go
+++ b/api/handlers.go
@@ -436,6 +436,10 @@ func postNetworksCreate(c *context, w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		return
 	}
 
+	if request.Driver == "" {
+		request.Driver = "overlay"
+	}
+
 	response, err := c.cluster.CreateNetwork(&request)
 	if err != nil {
 		httpError(w, err.Error(), http.StatusInternalServerError)