diff --git a/plugins/reporters/cyclonedx/src/main/kotlin/CycloneDxReporter.kt b/plugins/reporters/cyclonedx/src/main/kotlin/CycloneDxReporter.kt
index a810d7b69473e..553d2d30efe0c 100644
--- a/plugins/reporters/cyclonedx/src/main/kotlin/CycloneDxReporter.kt
+++ b/plugins/reporters/cyclonedx/src/main/kotlin/CycloneDxReporter.kt
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ data class CycloneDxReporterConfig(
      * A comma-separated list of (case-insensitive) output formats to export to. Supported are XML and JSON.
      */
     @OrtPluginOption(
-        defaultValue = "XML",
+        defaultValue = "JSON",
         aliases = ["output.file.formats"]
     )
     val outputFileFormats: List<String>