diff --git a/rdflib/plugins/stores/sparqlconnector.py b/rdflib/plugins/stores/sparqlconnector.py
index e2bb83909..87277a2e6 100644
--- a/rdflib/plugins/stores/sparqlconnector.py
+++ b/rdflib/plugins/stores/sparqlconnector.py
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ def query(
             raise SPARQLConnectorException("Query endpoint not set!")
 
         params = {}
+        default_graph = default_graph or self.kwargs.get("default_graph")
         # this test ensures we don't have a useless (BNode) default graph URI, which calls to Graph().query() will add
         if default_graph is not None and type(default_graph) is not BNode:
             params["default-graph-uri"] = default_graph
@@ -162,7 +163,7 @@ def update(
             raise SPARQLConnectorException("Query endpoint not set!")
 
         params = {}
-
+        default_graph = default_graph or self.kwargs.get("default_graph")
         if default_graph is not None:
             params["using-graph-uri"] = default_graph