diff --git a/vowpalwabbit/cb_adf.cc b/vowpalwabbit/cb_adf.cc
index 0a032567936..1f52650805d 100644
--- a/vowpalwabbit/cb_adf.cc
+++ b/vowpalwabbit/cb_adf.cc
@@ -489,7 +489,7 @@ base_learner* cb_adf_setup(options_i& options, vw& all)
     ld->gen_cs.cb_type = CB_TYPE_SM;
   else
   {
-    all.trace_message << "warning: cb_type must be in {'ips','dr','mtr','dm','sm'}; resetting to ips." << std::endl;
+    all.trace_message << "warning: cb_type must be in {'ips','dr','mtr','dm','sm'}; resetting to mtr." << std::endl;
     ld->gen_cs.cb_type = CB_TYPE_MTR;
   }