diff --git a/lisp/ob-clojure.el b/lisp/ob-clojure.el
index 65cb8727e..995de8604 100644
--- a/lisp/ob-clojure.el
+++ b/lisp/ob-clojure.el
@@ -63,7 +63,10 @@
 (defvar org-babel-default-header-args:clojure '())
 (defvar org-babel-header-args:clojure '((package . :any)))
 
-(defcustom org-babel-clojure-backend 'nrepl
+(defcustom org-babel-clojure-backend
+  (cond ((featurep 'cider) 'cider)
+	((featurep 'nrepl) 'nrepl)
+	(t 'slime))
   "Backend used to evaluate Clojure code blocks."
   :group 'org-babel
   :type '(choice