diff --git a/src/kmscon_conf.c b/src/kmscon_conf.c
index 0b29731..b10c19c 100644
--- a/src/kmscon_conf.c
+++ b/src/kmscon_conf.c
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ static void print_help()
 		"\t                              Size of the scrollback-buffer in lines\n"
 		"\n"
 		"Input Options:\n"
-		"\t    --xkb-layout <layout>      [us] Set XkbLayout for input devices\n"
+		"\t    --xkb-layout <layout>      [-]  Set XkbLayout for input devices\n"
 		"\t    --xkb-variant <variant>    [-]  Set XkbVariant for input devices\n"
 		"\t    --xkb-options <options>    [-]  Set XkbOptions for input devices\n"
 		"\t    --xkb-repeat-delay <msecs> [250]\n"
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ int kmscon_conf_new(struct conf_ctx **out)
 		CONF_OPTION_UINT(0, "sb-size", &conf->sb_size, 1000),
 
 		/* Input Options */
-		CONF_OPTION_STRING(0, "xkb-layout", &conf->xkb_layout, "us"),
+		CONF_OPTION_STRING(0, "xkb-layout", &conf->xkb_layout, ""),
 		CONF_OPTION_STRING(0, "xkb-variant", &conf->xkb_variant, ""),
 		CONF_OPTION_STRING(0, "xkb-options", &conf->xkb_options, ""),
 		CONF_OPTION_UINT(0, "xkb-repeat-delay", &conf->xkb_repeat_delay, 250),
diff --git a/src/uterm_input_uxkb.c b/src/uterm_input_uxkb.c
index 246abe7..dc7489e 100644
--- a/src/uterm_input_uxkb.c
+++ b/src/uterm_input_uxkb.c
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ int uxkb_desc_init(struct uterm_input *input,
 	int ret;
 	struct xkb_rule_names rmlvo = {
 		.rules = "evdev",
-		.model = "evdev",
+		.model = "",
 		.layout = layout,
 		.variant = variant,
 		.options = options,
@@ -62,10 +62,10 @@ int uxkb_desc_init(struct uterm_input *input,
 	input->keymap = xkb_keymap_new_from_names(input->ctx, &rmlvo, 0);
 	if (!input->keymap) {
 		log_warn("failed to create keymap (%s, %s, %s), "
-			 "reverting to default US keymap",
+			 "reverting to default system keymap",
 			 layout, variant, options);
 
-		rmlvo.layout = "us";
+		rmlvo.layout = "";
 		rmlvo.variant = "";
 		rmlvo.options = "";
 
diff --git a/tests/test_input.c b/tests/test_input.c
index 7a4e083..74a0916 100644
--- a/tests/test_input.c
+++ b/tests/test_input.c
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ static void print_help()
 		TEST_HELP
 		"\n"
 		"Input Device Options:\n"
-		"\t    --xkb-layout <layout>   [us]    Set XkbLayout for input devices\n"
+		"\t    --xkb-layout <layout>   [-]     Set XkbLayout for input devices\n"
 		"\t    --xkb-variant <variant> [-]     Set XkbVariant for input devices\n"
 		"\t    --xkb-options <options> [-]     Set XkbOptions for input devices\n",
 		"test_input");
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ static void print_help()
 
 struct conf_option options[] = {
 	TEST_OPTIONS,
-	CONF_OPTION_STRING(0, "xkb-layout", NULL, &input_conf.xkb_layout, "us"),
+	CONF_OPTION_STRING(0, "xkb-layout", NULL, &input_conf.xkb_layout, ""),
 	CONF_OPTION_STRING(0, "xkb-variant", NULL, &input_conf.xkb_variant, ""),
 	CONF_OPTION_STRING(0, "xkb-options", NULL, &input_conf.xkb_options, ""),
 };