diff --git a/packages/api-server/api_server/default_config.py b/packages/api-server/api_server/default_config.py
index 6857f4bdc..76780d80d 100644
--- a/packages/api-server/api_server/default_config.py
+++ b/packages/api-server/api_server/default_config.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
     # url that rmf-server is being served on.
     # When being a proxy, this must be the url that rmf-server is mounted on.
     # E.g. https://example.com/rmf/api/v1
-    "public_url": "",
+    "public_url": "http://localhost:8000",
     "cache_directory": "run/cache",  # The directory where cached files should be stored.
     "log_level": "WARNING",  # https://docs.python.org/3.8/library/logging.html#levels
     # a user that is automatically given admin privileges, note that this does not guarantee that the user exists in the identity provider.