diff --git a/tools/libinput-record.c b/tools/libinput-record.c
index f0c1935f..451de97d 100644
--- a/tools/libinput-record.c
+++ b/tools/libinput-record.c
@@ -2764,9 +2764,9 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 
 	if (!usec_is_zero(ctx.timeout) && output_arg == NULL) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "Option --autorestart requires --output-file\n");
-		rc = EXIT_INVALID_USAGE;
-		goto out;
+		output_arg = "libinput-recording.yml";
+		fprintf(stderr,
+			"Option --autorestart requires --output-file, defaulting to libinput-recording.yml\n");
 	}
 
 	ctx.output_file.name = safe_strdup(output_arg);
diff --git a/tools/test_tool_option_parsing.py b/tools/test_tool_option_parsing.py
index 35a42633..90da3547 100755
--- a/tools/test_tool_option_parsing.py
+++ b/tools/test_tool_option_parsing.py
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ def test_libinput_record_multiple(libinput_record, recording):
 
 def test_libinput_record_autorestart(libinput_record, recording):
     libinput_record.run_command_invalid(["--autorestart"])
-    libinput_record.run_command_invalid(["--autorestart=2"])
+    libinput_record.run_command_success(["--autorestart=2"])
     libinput_record.run_command_success(["-o", recording, "--autorestart=2"])