diff --git a/macros/read_group_macros.xml b/macros/read_group_macros.xml
index 26e8d6b209f..8931011709e 100644
--- a/macros/read_group_macros.xml
+++ b/macros/read_group_macros.xml
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@
         <param name="PU" type="text" label="Platform unit (PU)" help="Unique identifier (e.g. flowcell-barcode.lane for Illumina or slide for SOLiD)" optional="True" />
     </xml>
     <xml name="read_group_pu_required_param">
-        <param name="PU" type="text" label="Platform unit (PU)" help="Unique identifier (e.g. flowcell-barcode.lane for Illumina or slide for SOLiD)" optional="False" />
+        <param name="PU" type="text" value="run" label="Platform unit (PU)" help="Unique identifier (e.g. flowcell-barcode.lane for Illumina or slide for SOLiD)" optional="False" />
     </xml>
     <!-- Only ID is required - all groups available -->
     <xml name="read_group_inputs_spec">