diff --git a/CIME/config.py b/CIME/config.py
index 3715f42fc1c..ab94f69e4ae 100644
--- a/CIME/config.py
+++ b/CIME/config.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import os
 import re
 import sys
 import glob
@@ -9,6 +10,8 @@
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+DEFAULT_CUSTOMIZE_PATH = os.path.join(utils.get_src_root(), "cime_config", "customize")
+
 
 class ConfigBase:
     def __new__(cls):
@@ -132,6 +135,10 @@ def print_rst_table(self):
 
 
 class Config(ConfigBase):
+    @staticmethod
+    def load_defaults(cls):
+        return cls.load(DEFAULT_CUSTOMIZE_PATH)
+
     def __init__(self):
         super().__init__()
 
diff --git a/CIME/utils.py b/CIME/utils.py
index 2949508dbe3..ee6cc668680 100644
--- a/CIME/utils.py
+++ b/CIME/utils.py
@@ -453,6 +453,8 @@ def get_cime_default_driver():
 
     config = Config.instance()
 
+    config.load_defaults()
+
     if not driver:
         driver = config.driver_default