diff --git a/docs/en/reference/configuration.rst b/docs/en/reference/configuration.rst
index 32733fdd1f8..ebe1ffd4174 100644
--- a/docs/en/reference/configuration.rst
+++ b/docs/en/reference/configuration.rst
@@ -250,6 +250,8 @@ pdo\_pgsql
 -  ``dbname`` (string): Name of the database/schema to connect to.
 -  ``charset`` (string): The charset used when connecting to the
    database.
+-  ``default_dbname`` (string): Override the default database (postgres)
+   to connect to.
 -  ``sslmode`` (string): Determines whether or with what priority
    a SSL TCP/IP connection will be negotiated with the server.
    See the list of available modes:
diff --git a/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Driver/PDOPgSql/Driver.php b/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Driver/PDOPgSql/Driver.php
index 5f1a0cd6a74..c1af58e7256 100644
--- a/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Driver/PDOPgSql/Driver.php
+++ b/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Driver/PDOPgSql/Driver.php
@@ -88,10 +88,12 @@ private function _constructPdoDsn(array $params)
 
         if (isset($params['dbname'])) {
             $dsn .= 'dbname=' . $params['dbname'] . ' ';
+        } elseif (isset($params['default_dbname'])) {
+            $dsn .= 'dbname=' . $params['default_dbname'] . ' ';
         } else {
             // Used for temporary connections to allow operations like dropping the database currently connected to.
             // Connecting without an explicit database does not work, therefore "postgres" database is used
-            // as it is certainly present in every server setup.
+            // as it is mostly present in every server setup.
             $dsn .= 'dbname=postgres' . ' ';
         }
 
diff --git a/tests/Doctrine/Tests/DBAL/Functional/Driver/PDOPgSql/DriverTest.php b/tests/Doctrine/Tests/DBAL/Functional/Driver/PDOPgSql/DriverTest.php
index 813216babf5..e58be27aa20 100644
--- a/tests/Doctrine/Tests/DBAL/Functional/Driver/PDOPgSql/DriverTest.php
+++ b/tests/Doctrine/Tests/DBAL/Functional/Driver/PDOPgSql/DriverTest.php
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@
 
 namespace Doctrine\Tests\DBAL\Functional\Driver\PDOPgSql;
 
+use Doctrine\DBAL\Connection;
 use Doctrine\DBAL\Driver\PDOPgSql\Driver;
 use Doctrine\Tests\DBAL\Functional\Driver\AbstractDriverTest;
+use Doctrine\Tests\TestUtil;
 
 class DriverTest extends AbstractDriverTest
 {
@@ -20,6 +22,43 @@ protected function setUp()
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * @dataProvider getDatabaseParameter
+     */
+    public function testDatabaseParameters($databaseName, $defaultDatabaseName, $expectedDatabaseName)
+    {
+        $params = $this->_conn->getParams();
+        $params['dbname'] = $databaseName;
+        $params['default_dbname'] = $defaultDatabaseName;
+
+        $connection = new Connection(
+            $params,
+            $this->_conn->getDriver(),
+            $this->_conn->getConfiguration(),
+            $this->_conn->getEventManager()
+        );
+
+        $this->assertSame(
+            $expectedDatabaseName,
+            $this->driver->getDatabase($connection)
+        );
+    }
+
+    public function getDatabaseParameter()
+    {
+        $params = TestUtil::getConnection()->getParams();
+        $realDatabaseName = $params['dbname'];
+        $dummyDatabaseName = $realDatabaseName . 'a';
+
+        return array(
+            // dbname, default_dbname, expected
+            array($realDatabaseName, null, $realDatabaseName),
+            array($realDatabaseName, $dummyDatabaseName, $realDatabaseName),
+            array(null, $realDatabaseName, $realDatabaseName),
+            array(null, null, $this->getDatabaseNameForConnectionWithoutDatabaseNameParameter()),
+        );
+    }
+
     /**
      * @group DBAL-1146
      */