diff --git a/src/common/read_config.h b/src/common/read_config.h
index 5f81eaad66d5b48506aa9ed99badedbfc9dff683..bb3d3e169299d3a577c90355d59c6bea80a26b0e 100644
--- a/src/common/read_config.h
+++ b/src/common/read_config.h
@@ -89,6 +89,8 @@ extern char *default_plugstack;
 
 #if defined HAVE_BG_FILES && !defined HAVE_BG_L_P
 #  define DEFAULT_LAUNCH_TYPE         "launch/runjob"
+#elif defined HAVE_LIBNRT
+#  define DEFAULT_LAUNCH_TYPE         "launch/poe"
 #elif defined HAVE_REAL_CRAY
 #  define DEFAULT_LAUNCH_TYPE         "launch/aprun"
 #else