diff --git a/himbaechel/arch.cc b/himbaechel/arch.cc
index c85548cc..664fffe0 100644
--- a/himbaechel/arch.cc
+++ b/himbaechel/arch.cc
@@ -287,6 +287,9 @@ bool Arch::route()
     set_fast_pip_delays(true);
     uarch->preRoute();
     std::string router = str_or_default(settings, id("router"), defaultRouter);
+    if (router == "default") {
+        router = uarch->getDefaultRouter();
+    }
     bool result;
     if (router == "router1") {
         result = router1(getCtx(), Router1Cfg(getCtx()));
@@ -402,8 +405,8 @@ const std::string Arch::defaultPlacer = "heap";
 
 const std::vector<std::string> Arch::availablePlacers = {"sa", "heap"};
 
-const std::string Arch::defaultRouter = "router1";
-const std::vector<std::string> Arch::availableRouters = {"router1", "router2"};
+const std::string Arch::defaultRouter = "default";
+const std::vector<std::string> Arch::availableRouters = {"default", "router1", "router2"};
 
 void Arch::set_fast_pip_delays(bool fast_mode)
 {
diff --git a/himbaechel/himbaechel_api.h b/himbaechel/himbaechel_api.h
index dae43273..6aae2cae 100644
--- a/himbaechel/himbaechel_api.h
+++ b/himbaechel/himbaechel_api.h
@@ -147,6 +147,8 @@ struct HimbaechelAPI
     // For custom placer configuration
     virtual void configurePlacerHeap(PlacerHeapCfg &cfg) {};
 
+    virtual std::string getDefaultRouter() const { return "router1"; };
+
     virtual ~HimbaechelAPI() {};
 };
 
diff --git a/himbaechel/uarch/gatemate/gatemate.h b/himbaechel/uarch/gatemate/gatemate.h
index bdc17cb2..d2cd8fc9 100644
--- a/himbaechel/uarch/gatemate/gatemate.h
+++ b/himbaechel/uarch/gatemate/gatemate.h
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ struct GateMateImpl : HimbaechelAPI
     void preRoute() override;
     void postRoute() override;
 
+    virtual std::string getDefaultRouter() const override { return "router2"; };
+
     BoundingBox getRouteBoundingBox(WireId src, WireId dst) const override;
     void expandBoundingBox(BoundingBox &bb) const override;
     bool checkPipAvail(PipId pip) const override;