diff --git a/client/client_settings.hpp b/client/client_settings.hpp
index 0e671c00..096cd597 100644
--- a/client/client_settings.hpp
+++ b/client/client_settings.hpp
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ struct ClientSettings
         /// server host or IP address
         std::string host;
         /// protocol: "tcp", "ws" or "wss"
-        std::string protocol;
+        std::string protocol{"tcp"};
         /// server port
         size_t port{1704};
         /// server certificate