diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index 02ddcb9..c20467b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 2.19.1
+ - fix: "buyukurganci-2022" was not actually the default viscosity model
  - ref: remove distutils dependency
  - docs: add developer's section
 2.19.0
diff --git a/shapeout2/pipeline/dataslot.py b/shapeout2/pipeline/dataslot.py
index cd9b144..7ddcaff 100644
--- a/shapeout2/pipeline/dataslot.py
+++ b/shapeout2/pipeline/dataslot.py
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def __init__(self, path, identifier=None, name=None):
                 "emodulus scenario": "manual",
                 "emodulus temperature": np.nan,
                 "emodulus viscosity": np.nan,
-                "emodulus viscosity model": "herold-2017",
+                "emodulus viscosity model": "buyukurganci-2022",
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/tests/test_gui_bulk_emodulus.py b/tests/test_gui_bulk_emodulus.py
index d6c5c3a..fbe037d 100644
--- a/tests/test_gui_bulk_emodulus.py
+++ b/tests/test_gui_bulk_emodulus.py
@@ -60,6 +60,11 @@ def test_manual_basic(qtbot):
 
     # create bulk action dialog manually
     dlg = bulk.BulkActionEmodulus(mw, pipeline=mw.pipeline)
+
+    # sanity check: default viscosity model should be "buyukurganci-2022"
+    ivdm = dlg.comboBox_visc_model.findData("buyukurganci-2022")
+    assert dlg.comboBox_visc_model.currentIndex() == ivdm
+
     dlg.comboBox_temp.setCurrentIndex(dlg.comboBox_temp.findData("manual"))
     dlg.doubleSpinBox_temp.setValue(29.5)
     dlg.on_ok()
diff --git a/tests/test_gui_emodulus.py b/tests/test_gui_emodulus.py
index f44a210..76a3ba1 100644
--- a/tests/test_gui_emodulus.py
+++ b/tests/test_gui_emodulus.py
@@ -128,10 +128,15 @@ def test_simple(qtbot):
 
     mw.add_dataslot(paths=[path])
     wsl = mw.widget_ana_view.widget_slot
+    idvm = wsl.comboBox_visc_model.findData("herold-2017")
+    assert idvm >= 0
+    wsl.comboBox_visc_model.setCurrentIndex(idvm)
+    wsl.write_slot()
 
     # default values
     assert wsl.comboBox_medium.currentData() == "CellCarrier"
     assert wsl.comboBox_temp.currentData() == "feature"
+    assert wsl.comboBox_visc_model.currentData() == "herold-2017"
 
     # scenario A (this is already set by default)
     ds1 = mw.pipeline.slots[0].get_dataset()
@@ -326,3 +331,23 @@ def test_changeable_lut_selection(qtbot):
         path1.unlink()
     except BaseException:
         pass
+
+
+def test_viscosity_defaults_to_buyukurganci_2022(qtbot):
+    mw = ShapeOut2()
+    qtbot.addWidget(mw)
+
+    # add fake measurement
+    path1 = make_dataset(medium="CellCarrier", temp=22.5, temp_range=[22, 23])
+
+    mw.add_dataslot(paths=[path1])
+    wsl = mw.widget_ana_view.widget_slot
+    ds = mw.pipeline.slots[0].get_dataset()
+
+    assert ds.config["setup"]["medium"] == "CellCarrier", "sanity check"
+    assert wsl.comboBox_medium.currentData() == "CellCarrier"
+
+    # the buyukurganci-2022 viscosity model should be the default
+    idvm_loc = wsl.comboBox_visc_model.findData("buyukurganci-2022")
+    idvm_actual = wsl.comboBox_visc_model.currentIndex()
+    assert idvm_loc == idvm_actual