diff --git a/d2graph/d2graph.go b/d2graph/d2graph.go
index 69d8d918d..7bc2ba1cc 100644
--- a/d2graph/d2graph.go
+++ b/d2graph/d2graph.go
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ func NewGraph(ast *d2ast.Map) *Graph {
 		Parent:   nil,
 		Children: make(map[string]*Object),
 	}
-	d.Root.Attributes.Direction.Value = "down"
 	return d
 }
 
@@ -445,9 +444,6 @@ func (obj *Object) newObject(id string) *Object {
 			Label: Scalar{
 				Value: idval,
 			},
-			Direction: Scalar{
-				Value: "down",
-			},
 		},
 
 		Graph:  obj.Graph,
diff --git a/d2layouts/d2dagrelayout/layout.go b/d2layouts/d2dagrelayout/layout.go
index 9fa88ccc3..672871226 100644
--- a/d2layouts/d2dagrelayout/layout.go
+++ b/d2layouts/d2dagrelayout/layout.go
@@ -74,6 +74,8 @@ func Layout(ctx context.Context, d2graph *d2graph.Graph) (err error) {
 		rootAttrs.rankdir = "RL"
 	case "up":
 		rootAttrs.rankdir = "BT"
+	default:
+		rootAttrs.rankdir = "TB"
 	}
 	configJS := setGraphAttrs(rootAttrs)
 	if _, err := v8ctx.RunScript(configJS, "config.js"); err != nil {
diff --git a/d2layouts/d2elklayout/layout.go b/d2layouts/d2elklayout/layout.go
index 9365949b7..2df4c65be 100644
--- a/d2layouts/d2elklayout/layout.go
+++ b/d2layouts/d2elklayout/layout.go
@@ -131,6 +131,8 @@ func Layout(ctx context.Context, g *d2graph.Graph) (err error) {
 		elkGraph.LayoutOptions.Direction = "RIGHT"
 	case "left":
 		elkGraph.LayoutOptions.Direction = "LEFT"
+	default:
+		elkGraph.LayoutOptions.Direction = "DOWN"
 	}
 
 	elkNodes := make(map[*d2graph.Object]*ELKNode)