diff --git a/lib/vmm/binaries_darwin.go b/lib/vmm/binaries_darwin.go
index f91decb4..5c46eaf5 100644
--- a/lib/vmm/binaries_darwin.go
+++ b/lib/vmm/binaries_darwin.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ const (
 	V51_1 CHVersion = "v51.1"
 )
 
-const DefaultVersion = V49_0
+const DefaultVersion = V51_1
 
 // SupportedVersions lists supported Cloud Hypervisor versions.
 // On macOS, Cloud Hypervisor is not supported (use vz instead).
diff --git a/lib/vmm/binaries_linux.go b/lib/vmm/binaries_linux.go
index 620e1d08..6856b789 100644
--- a/lib/vmm/binaries_linux.go
+++ b/lib/vmm/binaries_linux.go
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ const (
 	V51_1 CHVersion = "v51.1"
 )
 
-const DefaultVersion = V49_0
+const DefaultVersion = V51_1
 
 var SupportedVersions = []CHVersion{V49_0, V51_1}