diff --git a/picamera2/picamera2.py b/picamera2/picamera2.py
index 72f57e42..e20864e3 100644
--- a/picamera2/picamera2.py
+++ b/picamera2/picamera2.py
@@ -1130,7 +1130,7 @@ def configure_(self, camera_config="preview") -> None:
                 scaler_crops.append(par_crop[1] if camera_config["lores"]["preserve_ar"] else scaler_crops[0])
             self.set_controls({"ScalerCrops": scaler_crops})
 
-    def configure(self, camera_config="preview") -> None:
+    def configure(self, camera_config=None) -> None:
         """Configure the camera system with the given configuration."""
         self.configure_(camera_config)