diff --git a/awx/ui/static/js/controllers/Adhoc.js b/awx/ui/static/js/controllers/Adhoc.js
index 5706fad81b..d4d3501f2d 100644
--- a/awx/ui/static/js/controllers/Adhoc.js
+++ b/awx/ui/static/js/controllers/Adhoc.js
@@ -87,6 +87,8 @@ export function AdhocCtrl($scope, $rootScope, $location, $routeParams,
         choicesReadyCount++;
 
         if (choicesReadyCount === 2) {
+            // this sets the default option as specified by the controller.
+            $scope.verbosity = $scope.adhoc_verbosity_options[$scope.verbosity_field.default];
             $scope.$emit('lookUpInitialize');
         }
     });
diff --git a/awx/ui/static/js/forms/Adhoc.js b/awx/ui/static/js/forms/Adhoc.js
index 8eb008708d..62c66d342a 100644
--- a/awx/ui/static/js/forms/Adhoc.js
+++ b/awx/ui/static/js/forms/Adhoc.js
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ export default
                     ngOptions: 'verbosity.label for verbosity in ' +
                         'adhoc_verbosity_options ' +
                         'track by verbosity.value',
+                    "default": 1,
                     editRequired: true,
                     awPopOver:'<p>These are the verbosity levels for standard ' +
                         'out of the command run that are supported.',