diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 6f007dbcc..9c2f5a29a 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -214,6 +214,9 @@ endif (APPLE)
 
 # Other files
 
+configure_file(${OpenMW_SOURCE_DIR}/files/settings-default.cfg
+    "${OpenMW_BINARY_DIR}/settings-default.cfg")
+
 configure_file(${OpenMW_SOURCE_DIR}/files/openmw.cfg.local
     "${OpenMW_BINARY_DIR}/openmw.cfg")
 configure_file(${OpenMW_SOURCE_DIR}/files/openmw.cfg
@@ -288,6 +291,7 @@ if(DPKG_PROGRAM)
     INSTALL(FILES "${OpenMW_SOURCE_DIR}/apps/launcher/resources/images/openmw.png" DESTINATION "share/pixmaps/" PERMISSIONS OWNER_READ OWNER_WRITE GROUP_READ WORLD_READ COMPONENT "openmw")
 
     #Install global configuration files
+    INSTALL(FILES "${OpenMW_BINARY_DIR}/settings-default.cfg" DESTINATION "../etc/openmw/" PERMISSIONS OWNER_READ OWNER_WRITE GROUP_READ WORLD_READ COMPONENT "openmw")
     INSTALL(FILES "${OpenMW_BINARY_DIR}/openmw.cfg.install" DESTINATION "../etc/openmw/" RENAME "openmw.cfg" PERMISSIONS OWNER_READ OWNER_WRITE GROUP_READ WORLD_READ COMPONENT "openmw")
     INSTALL(FILES "${OpenMW_BINARY_DIR}/plugins.cfg" DESTINATION "../etc/openmw/" PERMISSIONS OWNER_READ OWNER_WRITE GROUP_READ WORLD_READ COMPONENT "openmw")
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/engine.cpp b/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
index 294fcf492..166c9c16b 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/engine.cpp
@@ -315,9 +315,16 @@ void OMW::Engine::go()
         boost::filesystem::create_directories(configPath);
     }
 
+    // Create the settings manager and load default and user settings file
     Settings::Manager settings;
-
-    //settings.loadDefault(defaultsettingspath);
+    const std::string localdefault = mCfgMgr.getLocalPath().string() + "/settings-default.cfg";
+    const std::string globaldefault = mCfgMgr.getGlobalPath().string() + "/settings-default.cfg";
+
+    // prefer local
+    if (boost::filesystem::exists(localdefault))
+        settings.loadDefault(localdefault);
+    else if (boost::filesystem::exists(globaldefault))
+        settings.loadDefault(globaldefault);
 
     const std::string settingspath = mCfgMgr.getUserPath().string() + "/settings.cfg";
     if (boost::filesystem::exists(settingspath))
diff --git a/files/settings-default.cfg b/files/settings-default.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7a35b7102
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files/settings-default.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+[Objects]
+shaders = true
+num lights = 8