diff --git a/src/aleph/sdk/client/authenticated_http.py b/src/aleph/sdk/client/authenticated_http.py
index c85494fa..1764ee01 100644
--- a/src/aleph/sdk/client/authenticated_http.py
+++ b/src/aleph/sdk/client/authenticated_http.py
@@ -535,7 +535,9 @@ async def create_instance(
         timeout_seconds = timeout_seconds or settings.DEFAULT_VM_TIMEOUT
 
         payment = payment or Payment(chain=Chain.ETH, type=PaymentType.hold)
-        hypervisor = hypervisor or HypervisorType.firecracker
+
+        # Default to the QEMU hypervisor for instances.
+        selected_hypervisor: HypervisorType = hypervisor or HypervisorType.qemu
 
         content = InstanceContent(
             address=address,
@@ -543,7 +545,7 @@ async def create_instance(
             environment=InstanceEnvironment(
                 internet=internet,
                 aleph_api=aleph_api,
-                hypervisor=hypervisor,
+                hypervisor=selected_hypervisor,
             ),
             variables=environment_variables,
             resources=MachineResources(
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_asynchronous.py b/tests/unit/test_asynchronous.py
index 0fa0df38..0f909408 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_asynchronous.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_asynchronous.py
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ async def test_create_instance_no_hypervisor(mock_session_with_post_success):
             hypervisor=None,
         )
 
-    assert instance_message.content.environment.hypervisor == HypervisorType.firecracker
+    assert instance_message.content.environment.hypervisor == HypervisorType.qemu
 
     assert mock_session_with_post_success.http_session.post.assert_called_once
     assert isinstance(instance_message, InstanceMessage)