diff --git a/lcviz/plugins/viewer_creator/viewer_creator.py b/lcviz/plugins/viewer_creator/viewer_creator.py
index 8830e8be..d33a533e 100644
--- a/lcviz/plugins/viewer_creator/viewer_creator.py
+++ b/lcviz/plugins/viewer_creator/viewer_creator.py
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ def _rebuild_available_viewers(self, *args):
             phase_viewers = [{'name': f'lcviz-phase-viewer:{e}', 'label': f'flux-vs-phase:{e}'}
                               for e in self.app._jdaviz_helper.plugins['Ephemeris'].component.choices]  # noqa
         else:
-            phase_viewers = []
+            phase_viewers = [{'name': 'lcviz-phase-viewer:default',
+                              'label': 'flux-vs-phase:default'}]
 
         self.viewer_types = [v for v in self.viewer_types if v['name'].startswith('lcviz')
                              and not v['label'].startswith('flux-vs-phase')] + phase_viewers
diff --git a/lcviz/tests/test_plugin_ephemeris.py b/lcviz/tests/test_plugin_ephemeris.py
index 303ecf1d..dea97b68 100644
--- a/lcviz/tests/test_plugin_ephemeris.py
+++ b/lcviz/tests/test_plugin_ephemeris.py
@@ -118,9 +118,9 @@ def test_create_phase_viewer(helper, light_curve_like_kepler_quarter):
     ephem = helper.plugins['Ephemeris']
     vc = helper._tray_tools['lcviz-viewer-creator']
 
-    assert len(vc.viewer_types) == 1  # just time viewer
+    assert len(vc.viewer_types) == 2  # time viewer, phase viewer for default
     _ = ephem.create_phase_viewer()
-    assert len(vc.viewer_types) == 2
+    assert len(ephem._obj._get_phase_viewers()) == 1
 
     vc.vue_create_viewer('flux-vs-phase:default')
     assert len(ephem._obj._get_phase_viewers()) == 2
@@ -134,3 +134,6 @@ def test_create_phase_viewer(helper, light_curve_like_kepler_quarter):
 
     for pv in ephem._obj._get_phase_viewers():
         assert pv._ephemeris_component == 'renamed'
+
+    ephem.add_component('new')
+    assert len(vc.viewer_types) == 3