diff --git a/include/osg/ShadeModel b/include/osg/ShadeModel
index 31f431f71..97be547eb 100644
--- a/include/osg/ShadeModel
+++ b/include/osg/ShadeModel
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class OSG_EXPORT ShadeModel : public StateAttribute
             SMOOTH = GL_SMOOTH
         };
     
-        ShadeModel(Mode mode=FLAT);
+        ShadeModel(Mode mode=SMOOTH);
 
         /** Copy constructor using CopyOp to manage deep vs shallow copy.*/
         ShadeModel(const ShadeModel& sm,const CopyOp& copyop=CopyOp::SHALLOW_COPY):