diff --git a/Lib/ufo2ft/instantiator.py b/Lib/ufo2ft/instantiator.py
index 067eb1ff..fcc7f973 100644
--- a/Lib/ufo2ft/instantiator.py
+++ b/Lib/ufo2ft/instantiator.py
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ def from_designspace(
         do_glyphs=True,
     ):
         """Instantiates a new data class from a Designspace object."""
-        if designspace.default is None:
+        if designspace.findDefault() is None:
             raise InstantiatorError(_error_msg_no_default(designspace))
 
         if any(hasattr(axis, "values") for axis in designspace.axes):
diff --git a/tests/instantiator_test.py b/tests/instantiator_test.py
index 6112db20..fa673310 100644
--- a/tests/instantiator_test.py
+++ b/tests/instantiator_test.py
@@ -71,7 +71,6 @@ def test_default_groups_only(ufo_module, data_dir, caplog):
     d.addSourceDescriptor(location={"Weight": 300}, font=ufo_module.Font())
     d.addSourceDescriptor(location={"Weight": 900}, font=ufo_module.Font())
     d.addInstanceDescriptor(styleName="2", location={"Weight": 400})
-    d.findDefault()
 
     d.sources[0].font.groups["public.kern1.GRK_alpha_alt_LC_1ST"] = [
         "alpha.alt",
@@ -102,7 +101,6 @@ def test_default_groups_only2(ufo_module, data_dir, caplog):
     d.addSourceDescriptor(location={"Weight": 300}, font=ufo_module.Font())
     d.addSourceDescriptor(location={"Weight": 900}, font=ufo_module.Font())
     d.addInstanceDescriptor(styleName="2", location={"Weight": 400})
-    d.findDefault()
 
     d.sources[0].font.groups["public.kern1.GRK_alpha_alt_LC_1ST"] = [
         "alpha.alt",