diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1d917828..c31c509b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -78,8 +78,7 @@ for you.
 
 * `app['database']['adapter']`
   * **Supported values:** `mariadb`, `mysql`, `postgresql`, `sqlite3`
-  * **Note:** There is no default database adapter if a RDS resource is not
-    defined in your stack.
+  * **Default:** `sqlite3`
   * ActiveRecord adapter which will be used for database connection.
 * `app['database']['username']`
   * Username used to authenticate to the DB
diff --git a/attributes/default.rb b/attributes/default.rb
index 2c046140..b982f824 100644
--- a/attributes/default.rb
+++ b/attributes/default.rb
@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@
   nginx::http_stub_status_module
 )
 
+# database
+## common
+
+default['defaults']['database']['adapter'] = 'sqlite3'
+
 # scm
 ## common
 
diff --git a/libraries/drivers_db_base.rb b/libraries/drivers_db_base.rb
index 7bbd8037..e1269aa1 100644
--- a/libraries/drivers_db_base.rb
+++ b/libraries/drivers_db_base.rb
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@ def app_engine
       end
 
       def node_engine
-        node['deploy'][app['shortname']]['database'].try(:[], 'adapter')
+        node['deploy'][app['shortname']]['database'].try(:[], 'adapter') ||
+          node['defaults'].try(:[], 'database').try(:[], 'adapter')
       end
 
       private
diff --git a/libraries/drivers_db_factory.rb b/libraries/drivers_db_factory.rb
index a5e68783..29cab564 100644
--- a/libraries/drivers_db_factory.rb
+++ b/libraries/drivers_db_factory.rb
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ def self.detect_engine(app, node, options)
         Drivers::Db::Base.descendants.detect do |db_driver|
           db_driver.allowed_engines.include?(
             options.try(:[], :rds).try(:[], 'engine') ||
-            node.try(:[], 'deploy').try(:[], app['shortname']).try(:[], 'database').try(:[], 'adapter')
+            node.try(:[], 'deploy').try(:[], app['shortname']).try(:[], 'database').try(:[], 'adapter') ||
+            node.try(:[], 'defaults').try(:[], 'database').try(:[], 'adapter')
           )
         end
       end