diff --git a/docs/manual/using.html b/docs/manual/using.html
index 462d5b09c..e5fe44d7f 100644
--- a/docs/manual/using.html
+++ b/docs/manual/using.html
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ to be unique. (For additional information, see the
   <tr>
     <td valign="top">default</td>
     <td valign="top">the default target to use when no target is supplied.</td>
-    <td align="center" valign="top">No.  No target will be run if omitted.</td>
+    <td align="center" valign="top"><!-- No.  No target will be run if omitted.--> Yes.</td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <td valign="top">basedir</td>
diff --git a/src/etc/testcases/core/topleveltasks/notarget.xml b/src/etc/testcases/core/topleveltasks/notarget.xml
index 35ef87355..d460dc0da 100644
--- a/src/etc/testcases/core/topleveltasks/notarget.xml
+++ b/src/etc/testcases/core/topleveltasks/notarget.xml
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
-<project>
+<project default="foo">
   <echo message="Called" />
+  <target name="foo" />
 </project>
diff --git a/src/etc/testcases/core/topleveltasks/toplevelant.xml b/src/etc/testcases/core/topleveltasks/toplevelant.xml
index 427eddbc0..4a61673b4 100644
--- a/src/etc/testcases/core/topleveltasks/toplevelant.xml
+++ b/src/etc/testcases/core/topleveltasks/toplevelant.xml
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
-<project basedir=".">
+<project basedir="." default="foo">
   <ant antfile="notarget.xml" />
+  <target name="foo" />
 </project>
diff --git a/src/etc/testcases/taskdefs/java.xml b/src/etc/testcases/taskdefs/java.xml
index 5d9bba151..fc4d4df1f 100644
--- a/src/etc/testcases/taskdefs/java.xml
+++ b/src/etc/testcases/taskdefs/java.xml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <?xml version="1.0"?>
 
-<project name="java-test" basedir="." default="">
+<project name="java-test" basedir="." default="foo">
 
   <property name="app" 
     value="org.apache.tools.ant.taskdefs.JavaTest$$EntryPoint" />
@@ -89,4 +89,5 @@
     </java>
   </target>
   
+  <target name="foo" />
 </project>
diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/helper/ProjectHelperImpl.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/helper/ProjectHelperImpl.java
index fbd8b2ac4..afe43ef55 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/helper/ProjectHelperImpl.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/helper/ProjectHelperImpl.java
@@ -454,6 +454,8 @@ public class ProjectHelperImpl extends ProjectHelper {
 
             if (def != null && !def.equals("")) {
                 helperImpl.project.setDefaultTarget(def);
+            } else {
+                throw new BuildException("The default attribute is required");
             }
 
             if (name != null) {