diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_startup.cc b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_startup.cc
index 9490527c0a..a2ac3b953b 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_startup.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/ardour_ui_startup.cc
@@ -860,7 +860,13 @@ ARDOUR_UI::load_from_application_api (const std::string& path)
 	if (nsm) {
 		unload_session(false, true);
 
-		if (!AudioEngine::instance()->set_backend("JACK", ARDOUR_COMMAND_LINE::backend_client_name, "")) {
+		if (!AudioEngine::instance()->set_backend(
+#if ! (defined(__APPLE__) || defined(PLATFORM_WINDOWS))
+					"JACK/Pipewire",
+#else
+					"JACK",
+#endif
+					ARDOUR_COMMAND_LINE::backend_client_name, "")) {
 			error << _("NSM: The JACK backend is mandatory and can not be loaded.") << endmsg;
 			return;
 		}
diff --git a/headless/load_session.cc b/headless/load_session.cc
index d1f4c4d85f..ef06d35a73 100644
--- a/headless/load_session.cc
+++ b/headless/load_session.cc
@@ -49,10 +49,15 @@ using namespace PBD;
 static const char* localedir = LOCALEDIR;
 
 static string             backend_client_name;
-static string             backend_name = "JACK";
 static CrossThreadChannel xthread (true);
 static TestReceiver       test_receiver;
 
+#if ! (defined(__APPLE__) || defined(PLATFORM_WINDOWS))
+static string backend_name = "JACK/Pipewire";
+#else
+static string backend_name = "JACK";
+#endif
+
 /** @param dir Session directory.
  *  @param state Session state file, without .ardour suffix.
  */