diff --git a/festim/concentration/traps/extrinsic_trap.py b/festim/concentration/traps/extrinsic_trap.py
index b6b0c9f27..78a450309 100644
--- a/festim/concentration/traps/extrinsic_trap.py
+++ b/festim/concentration/traps/extrinsic_trap.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ def __init__(
         relative_tolerance=1e-10,
         maximum_iterations=30,
         linear_solver=None,
-        preconditioner=None,
+        preconditioner="default",
         **kwargs,
     ):
         """Inits ExtrinsicTrap
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ def newton_solver(self, value):
     def define_newton_solver(self):
         """Creates the Newton solver and sets its parameters"""
         self.newton_solver = NewtonSolver(MPI.comm_world)
-        self.newton_solver.parameters["error_on_nonconvergence"] = False
+        self.newton_solver.parameters["error_on_nonconvergence"] = True
         self.newton_solver.parameters["absolute_tolerance"] = self.absolute_tolerance
         self.newton_solver.parameters["relative_tolerance"] = self.relative_tolerance
         self.newton_solver.parameters["maximum_iterations"] = self.maximum_iterations
diff --git a/festim/temperature/temperature_solver.py b/festim/temperature/temperature_solver.py
index e365e3243..c35a635a0 100644
--- a/festim/temperature/temperature_solver.py
+++ b/festim/temperature/temperature_solver.py
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ def define_variational_problem(self, materials, mesh, dt=None):
     def define_newton_solver(self):
         """Creates the Newton solver and sets its parameters"""
         self.newton_solver = f.NewtonSolver(f.MPI.comm_world)
-        self.newton_solver.parameters["error_on_nonconvergence"] = False
+        self.newton_solver.parameters["error_on_nonconvergence"] = True
         self.newton_solver.parameters["absolute_tolerance"] = self.absolute_tolerance
         self.newton_solver.parameters["relative_tolerance"] = self.relative_tolerance
         self.newton_solver.parameters["maximum_iterations"] = self.maximum_iterations
diff --git a/test/unit/test_temperature.py b/test/unit/test_temperature.py
index ee1bca53b..ff5a0e946 100644
--- a/test/unit/test_temperature.py
+++ b/test/unit/test_temperature.py
@@ -262,3 +262,25 @@ def test_temperature_from_xdmf(tmpdir):
     temperature = festim.TemperatureFromXDMF(T_file, "T")
 
     assert temperature.is_steady_state()
+
+
+def test_heat_transfer_default_solver():
+    """
+    Tests that the default parameters for the Newton solver
+    of HeatTransferProblem are correct
+    """
+
+    heat_solver = festim.HeatTransferProblem()
+    heat_solver.define_newton_solver()
+
+    default_settings = {
+        "absolute_tolerance": 1e-3,
+        "relative_tolerance": 1e-10,
+        "maximum_iterations": 30,
+        "linear_solver": None,
+        "preconditioner": "default",
+        "error_on_nonconvergence": True,
+    }
+
+    for key in default_settings.keys():
+        assert default_settings[key] == heat_solver.newton_solver.parameters[key]
diff --git a/test/unit/test_traps/test_extrinsic_trap.py b/test/unit/test_traps/test_extrinsic_trap.py
index 5eb44c92f..d48489c59 100644
--- a/test/unit/test_traps/test_extrinsic_trap.py
+++ b/test/unit/test_traps/test_extrinsic_trap.py
@@ -79,12 +79,31 @@ def test_create_form_density(self):
         print(self.my_trap.form_density)
         assert self.my_trap.form_density.equals(expected_form)
 
+    def test_default_solver_parameters(self):
+        """
+        A test to check that the default parameters for the Newton solver
+        of ExtrinsicTrap are correct
+        """
+        self.my_trap.define_newton_solver()
+
+        default_settings = {
+            "absolute_tolerance": 1e0,
+            "relative_tolerance": 1e-10,
+            "maximum_iterations": 30,
+            "linear_solver": None,
+            "preconditioner": "default",
+            "error_on_nonconvergence": True,
+        }
+
+        for key in default_settings.keys():
+            assert default_settings[key] == self.my_trap.newton_solver.parameters[key]
+
     def test_solver_parameters(self):
         """
         A test to ensure the extrinsic trap solver parameters can be accessed
         """
-        self.my_trap.absolute_tolerance = 1
-        self.my_trap.relative_tolerance = 1
+        self.my_trap.absolute_tolerance = 1.0
+        self.my_trap.relative_tolerance = 1.0
         self.my_trap.maximum_iterations = 1
         self.my_trap.linear_solver = "mumps"
         self.my_trap.preconditioner = "icc"