diff --git a/src/prefs/QualityPrefs.cpp b/src/prefs/QualityPrefs.cpp
index 7160e6776..1692e291f 100644
--- a/src/prefs/QualityPrefs.cpp
+++ b/src/prefs/QualityPrefs.cpp
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ void QualityPrefs::Populate()
    GetNamesAndLabels();
    gPrefs->Read(wxT("/SamplingRate/DefaultProjectSampleRate"),
                 &mOtherSampleRateValue,
-                44100);
+                AudioIO::GetOptimalSupportedSampleRate());
 
    //------------------------- Main section --------------------
    // Now construct the GUI itself.