diff --git a/launchers/qt/src/LauncherState.cpp b/launchers/qt/src/LauncherState.cpp
index 98e476bc99..3689db5aa2 100644
--- a/launchers/qt/src/LauncherState.cpp
+++ b/launchers/qt/src/LauncherState.cpp
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ void LauncherState::requestSettings() {
     connect(request, &UserSettingsRequest::finished, this, [this, request]() {
         auto userSettings = request->getUserSettings();
         if (userSettings.homeLocation.isEmpty()) {
-            _config.homeLocation = "hifi://hq";
+            _config.homeLocation = "";
             _contentCacheURL = "";
         } else {
             _config.homeLocation = userSettings.homeLocation;