diff --git a/kernel/sparkex/src/main/java/com/twosigma/beakerx/widget/SparkUIForm.java b/kernel/sparkex/src/main/java/com/twosigma/beakerx/widget/SparkUIForm.java
index 546a53fa8e..7389e19ba9 100644
--- a/kernel/sparkex/src/main/java/com/twosigma/beakerx/widget/SparkUIForm.java
+++ b/kernel/sparkex/src/main/java/com/twosigma/beakerx/widget/SparkUIForm.java
@@ -110,7 +110,6 @@ private HBox createProfileModal() {
   }
 
   private HBox createProfileManagement() {
-    List profiles = sparkUiDefaults.getProfiles();
     Dropdown profileDropdown = new Dropdown();
     profileDropdown.setOptions(this.sparkUiDefaults.getProfileNames());
     profileDropdown.setValue(this.sparkUiDefaults.getCurrentProfileName());
diff --git a/kernel/sparkex/src/main/java/com/twosigma/beakerx/widget/SparkUiDefaults.java b/kernel/sparkex/src/main/java/com/twosigma/beakerx/widget/SparkUiDefaults.java
index 2097e276f8..f3a8a88b3c 100644
--- a/kernel/sparkex/src/main/java/com/twosigma/beakerx/widget/SparkUiDefaults.java
+++ b/kernel/sparkex/src/main/java/com/twosigma/beakerx/widget/SparkUiDefaults.java
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 
 public interface SparkUiDefaults {
 
-  String DEFAULT_PROFILE = "Default";
+  String DEFAULT_PROFILE = "";
 
   void saveSparkConf(List<Map<String, Object>> sparkConf);