diff --git a/libervia/backend/plugins/plugin_comp_pubsub/__init__.py b/libervia/backend/plugins/plugin_comp_pubsub/__init__.py
index 6ea8e576..199b19ab 100644
--- a/libervia/backend/plugins/plugin_comp_pubsub/__init__.py
+++ b/libervia/backend/plugins/plugin_comp_pubsub/__init__.py
@@ -591,6 +591,10 @@ class PubsubResource(pubsub.PubSubResource):
 
         config = PubsubNodeConfig()
 
+        if is_pep:
+            # XEP-0163: default access model for PEP nodes is "presence"
+            config.access_model = AccessModel.presence
+
         if request.options is not None:
             access_model_value = request.options.get(XEP_0060.OPT_ACCESS_MODEL)
             if access_model_value: