diff --git a/src/main/PileupTrack.js b/src/main/PileupTrack.js
index b176ae39..48ba9d9c 100644
--- a/src/main/PileupTrack.js
+++ b/src/main/PileupTrack.js
@@ -366,6 +366,9 @@ PileupTrack.propTypes = {
   options: React.PropTypes.object
 };
 PileupTrack.displayName = 'pileup';
+PileupTrack.defaultOptions = {
+  viewAsPairs: false
+};
 
 
 module.exports = PileupTrack;
diff --git a/src/main/pileup.js b/src/main/pileup.js
index 2e5aea76..82560d05 100644
--- a/src/main/pileup.js
+++ b/src/main/pileup.js
@@ -108,9 +108,9 @@ function create(elOrId: string|Element, params: PileupParams): Pileup {
 
 type VizObject = ((options: ?Object) => {component: React.Component, options:?Object});
 
-function makeVizObject(component: React.Component, defaultOptions: ?Object): VizObject {
+function makeVizObject(component: React.Component): VizObject {
   return options => {
-    options = _.extend({}, defaultOptions, options);
+    options = _.extend({}, component.defaultOptions, options);
     return {component, options};
   };
 }
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ var pileup = {
     location: makeVizObject(LocationTrack),
     scale:    makeVizObject(ScaleTrack),
     variants: makeVizObject(VariantTrack),
-    pileup:   makeVizObject(PileupTrack, {viewAsPairs: false})
+    pileup:   makeVizObject(PileupTrack)
   }
 };