diff --git a/runtime/setup.py b/runtime/setup.py
index 8150485c7b4e..fb723f95d57c 100644
--- a/runtime/setup.py
+++ b/runtime/setup.py
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ def build_configuration(cmake_build_dir, cmake_install_dir, extra_cmake_args=())
             "IREE_HAL_DRIVER_VULKAN",
             "OFF" if platform.system() == "Darwin" else "ON",
         ),
-        get_env_cmake_list("IREE_EXTERNAL_HAL_DRIVERS", ""),
+        get_env_cmake_list("IREE_EXTERNAL_HAL_DRIVERS", "rocm"),
         get_env_cmake_option("IREE_ENABLE_CPUINFO", "ON"),
     ] + list(extra_cmake_args)
     add_env_cmake_setting(cmake_args, "IREE_TRACING_PROVIDER")