diff --git a/cura/CuraApplication.py b/cura/CuraApplication.py
index 05070e4432..2a2283d3a5 100755
--- a/cura/CuraApplication.py
+++ b/cura/CuraApplication.py
@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@ class CuraApplication(QtApplication):
         SettingFunction.registerOperator("extruderValues", ExtruderManager.getExtruderValues)
         SettingFunction.registerOperator("extruderValue", ExtruderManager.getExtruderValue)
         SettingFunction.registerOperator("resolveOrValue", ExtruderManager.getResolveOrValue)
+        SettingFunction.registerOperator("defaultExtruderPosition", ExtruderManager.getDefaultExtruderPosition)
 
         ## Add the 4 types of profiles to storage.
         Resources.addStorageType(self.ResourceTypes.QualityInstanceContainer, "quality")
diff --git a/cura/Settings/ExtruderManager.py b/cura/Settings/ExtruderManager.py
index 51e7e81fef..7e7fe45cb2 100755
--- a/cura/Settings/ExtruderManager.py
+++ b/cura/Settings/ExtruderManager.py
@@ -557,6 +557,11 @@ class ExtruderManager(QObject):
 
         return result
 
+    ##  Return the default extruder position from the machine manager
+    @staticmethod
+    def getDefaultExtruderPosition() -> str:
+        return Application.getInstance().getMachineManager().defaultExtruderPosition
+
     ##  Get all extruder values for a certain setting.
     #
     #   This is exposed to qml for display purposes
diff --git a/plugins/CuraEngineBackend/StartSliceJob.py b/plugins/CuraEngineBackend/StartSliceJob.py
index 0297a34385..467351dd4b 100644
--- a/plugins/CuraEngineBackend/StartSliceJob.py
+++ b/plugins/CuraEngineBackend/StartSliceJob.py
@@ -287,14 +287,9 @@ class StartSliceJob(Job):
     #   \return A dictionary of replacement tokens to the values they should be
     #   replaced with.
     def _buildReplacementTokens(self, stack) -> dict:
-        default_extruder_position = int(Application.getInstance().getMachineManager().defaultExtruderPosition)
         result = {}
         for key in stack.getAllKeys():
-            setting_type = stack.definition.getProperty(key, "type")
             value = stack.getProperty(key, "value")
-            if setting_type == "extruder" and value == -1:
-                # replace with the default value
-                value = default_extruder_position
             result[key] = value
             Job.yieldThread()
 
diff --git a/resources/definitions/fdmprinter.def.json b/resources/definitions/fdmprinter.def.json
index 25fe841ee4..1c43225472 100644
--- a/resources/definitions/fdmprinter.def.json
+++ b/resources/definitions/fdmprinter.def.json
@@ -3621,7 +3621,7 @@
                     "description": "The extruder train to use for printing the support. This is used in multi-extrusion.",
                     "type": "extruder",
                     "default_value": "0",
-                    "value": "-1",
+                    "value": "defaultExtruderPosition()",
                     "enabled": "(support_enable or support_tree_enable) and extruders_enabled_count > 1",
                     "settable_per_mesh": false,
                     "settable_per_extruder": false,
@@ -4362,7 +4362,7 @@
                     "description": "The extruder train to use for printing the skirt/brim/raft. This is used in multi-extrusion.",
                     "type": "extruder",
                     "default_value": "0",
-                    "value": "-1",
+                    "value": "defaultExtruderPosition()",
                     "enabled": "extruders_enabled_count > 1 and resolveOrValue('adhesion_type') != 'none'",
                     "settable_per_mesh": false,
                     "settable_per_extruder": false
diff --git a/resources/qml/Settings/SettingExtruder.qml b/resources/qml/Settings/SettingExtruder.qml
index 38b1c2cab0..2239628e3f 100644
--- a/resources/qml/Settings/SettingExtruder.qml
+++ b/resources/qml/Settings/SettingExtruder.qml
@@ -93,14 +93,7 @@ SettingItem
         {
             target: control
             property: "currentIndex"
-            value:
-            {
-                if(propertyProvider.properties.value == -1)
-                {
-                    return control.getIndexByPosition(Cura.MachineManager.defaultExtruderPosition);
-                }
-                return propertyProvider.properties.value
-            }
+            value: control.getIndexByPosition(propertyProvider.properties.value)
             // Sometimes when the value is already changed, the model is still being built.
             // The when clause ensures that the current index is not updated when this happens.
             when: control.model.items.length > 0