diff --git a/R/fit.R b/R/fit.R
index b2c844721..4dcedc4c4 100644
--- a/R/fit.R
+++ b/R/fit.R
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 #' or related functions. These priors are passed to [epidist_prior()] in the
 #' `prior` argument.
 #' @param backend Character string naming the package to use as the backend for
-#' fitting the Stan model. Options are `"rstan"` and `"cmdstanr"` (the default).
+#' fitting the Stan model. Options are `"rstan"` and `"cmdstanr"`.
 #' This option is passed directly through to `fn`.
 #' @param fn The internal function to be called. By default this is
 #' [brms::brm()] which performs inference for the specified model. Other options
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ epidist <- function(data, formula, family, prior, backend, fn, ...) {
 #' @export
 epidist.default <- function(data, formula = mu ~ 1,
                             family = "lognormal", prior = NULL,
-                            backend = "cmdstanr", fn = brms::brm, ...) {
+                            backend = "rstan", fn = brms::brm, ...) {
   epidist_validate(data)
   epidist_family <- epidist_family(data, family)
   epidist_formula <- epidist_formula(
diff --git a/man/epidist.Rd b/man/epidist.Rd
index 89a9d661a..8929b2fca 100644
--- a/man/epidist.Rd
+++ b/man/epidist.Rd
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ or related functions. These priors are passed to \code{\link[=epidist_prior]{epi
 \code{prior} argument.}
 
 \item{backend}{Character string naming the package to use as the backend for
-fitting the Stan model. Options are \code{"rstan"} and \code{"cmdstanr"} (the default).
+fitting the Stan model. Options are \code{"rstan"} and \code{"cmdstanr"}.
 This option is passed directly through to \code{fn}.}
 
 \item{fn}{The internal function to be called. By default this is
diff --git a/man/epidist.default.Rd b/man/epidist.default.Rd
index dc9a5a2b3..915398c78 100644
--- a/man/epidist.default.Rd
+++ b/man/epidist.default.Rd
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   formula = mu ~ 1,
   family = "lognormal",
   prior = NULL,
-  backend = "cmdstanr",
+  backend = "rstan",
   fn = brms::brm,
   ...
 )
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ or related functions. These priors are passed to \code{\link[=epidist_prior]{epi
 \code{prior} argument.}
 
 \item{backend}{Character string naming the package to use as the backend for
-fitting the Stan model. Options are \code{"rstan"} and \code{"cmdstanr"} (the default).
+fitting the Stan model. Options are \code{"rstan"} and \code{"cmdstanr"}.
 This option is passed directly through to \code{fn}.}
 
 \item{fn}{The internal function to be called. By default this is