diff --git a/llama_stack/templates/remote-vllm/vllm.py b/llama_stack/templates/remote-vllm/vllm.py
index ba0dacae0..0f6c7659e 100644
--- a/llama_stack/templates/remote-vllm/vllm.py
+++ b/llama_stack/templates/remote-vllm/vllm.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def get_distribution_template() -> DistributionTemplate:
         provider_id="vllm-inference",
         provider_type="remote::vllm",
         config=VLLMInferenceAdapterConfig.sample_run_config(
-            url="${env.VLLM_URL}",
+            url="${env.VLLM_URL:http://localhost:8000/v1}",
         ),
     )
     embedding_provider = Provider(