diff --git a/src/voice_tts/api/server.py b/src/voice_tts/api/server.py
index 1c27a71..49ca640 100644
--- a/src/voice_tts/api/server.py
+++ b/src/voice_tts/api/server.py
@@ -123,6 +123,8 @@
         voice = VoiceProfile()
         if msg.voice_ref:
             voice.default_ref = Path(msg.voice_ref)
+        elif settings.default_voice_ref is not None:
+            voice.default_ref = settings.default_voice_ref
         if msg.voice_refs:
             voice.emotion_refs = {
                 emotion: Path(path) for emotion, path in msg.voice_refs.items()