diff --git a/src/session.c b/src/session.c
index 94fc875..7a00b0d 100644
--- a/src/session.c
+++ b/src/session.c
@@ -481,7 +481,7 @@
 		s->si[1].flags |= SI_FL_INDEP_STR;
 
 	session_init_srv_conn(s);
-	s->target = NULL;
+	s->target = p->default_target; /* used by peers and CLI */
 	s->pend_pos = NULL;
 
 	/* init store persistence */