diff --git a/ldpd/ldpd.c b/ldpd/ldpd.c
index 9fccb085dd..a6f0519bd7 100644
--- a/ldpd/ldpd.c
+++ b/ldpd/ldpd.c
@@ -236,6 +236,9 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		"      --ctl_socket   Override ctl socket path\n"
 		"  -n, --instance     Instance id\n");
 
+	/* set default instance (to differentiate ldpd socket from lde one */
+	init.instance = 1;
+
 	while (1) {
 		int opt;