diff --git a/modules/sd_vae.py b/modules/sd_vae.py
index 71e7a6e63..0b5f0213e 100644
--- a/modules/sd_vae.py
+++ b/modules/sd_vae.py
@@ -83,7 +83,19 @@ def refresh_vae_list(vae_path=vae_path, model_path=model_path):
     return vae_list
 
 
-def resolve_vae(checkpoint_file, vae_file="auto"):
+def get_vae_from_settings(vae_file="auto"):
+    # else, we load from settings, if not set to be default
+    if vae_file == "auto" and shared.opts.sd_vae is not None:
+        # if saved VAE settings isn't recognized, fallback to auto
+        vae_file = vae_dict.get(shared.opts.sd_vae, "auto")
+        # if VAE selected but not found, fallback to auto
+        if vae_file not in default_vae_values and not os.path.isfile(vae_file):
+            vae_file = "auto"
+            print("Selected VAE doesn't exist")
+    return vae_file
+
+
+def resolve_vae(checkpoint_file=None, vae_file="auto"):
     global first_load, vae_dict, vae_list
 
     # if vae_file argument is provided, it takes priority, but not saved
@@ -98,14 +110,9 @@ def resolve_vae(checkpoint_file, vae_file="auto"):
             shared.opts.data['sd_vae'] = get_filename(vae_file)
         else:
             print("VAE provided as command line argument doesn't exist")
-    # else, we load from settings
-    if vae_file == "auto" and shared.opts.sd_vae is not None:
-        # if saved VAE settings isn't recognized, fallback to auto
-        vae_file = vae_dict.get(shared.opts.sd_vae, "auto")
-        # if VAE selected but not found, fallback to auto
-        if vae_file not in default_vae_values and not os.path.isfile(vae_file):
-            vae_file = "auto"
-            print("Selected VAE doesn't exist")
+    # fallback to selector in settings, if vae selector not set to act as default fallback
+    if not shared.opts.sd_vae_as_default:
+        vae_file = get_vae_from_settings(vae_file)
     # vae-path cmd arg takes priority for auto
     if vae_file == "auto" and shared.cmd_opts.vae_path is not None:
         if os.path.isfile(shared.cmd_opts.vae_path):
diff --git a/modules/shared.py b/modules/shared.py
index 6936cbe06..5528ab15e 100644
--- a/modules/shared.py
+++ b/modules/shared.py
@@ -335,6 +335,7 @@ options_templates.update(options_section(('sd', "Stable Diffusion"), {
     "sd_model_checkpoint": OptionInfo(None, "Stable Diffusion checkpoint", gr.Dropdown, lambda: {"choices": modules.sd_models.checkpoint_tiles()}, refresh=sd_models.list_models),
     "sd_checkpoint_cache": OptionInfo(0, "Checkpoints to cache in RAM", gr.Slider, {"minimum": 0, "maximum": 10, "step": 1}),
     "sd_vae": OptionInfo("auto", "SD VAE", gr.Dropdown, lambda: {"choices": list(sd_vae.vae_list)}, refresh=sd_vae.refresh_vae_list),
+    "sd_vae_as_default": OptionInfo(False, "Use selected VAE as default fallback instead"),
     "sd_hypernetwork": OptionInfo("None", "Hypernetwork", gr.Dropdown, lambda: {"choices": ["None"] + [x for x in hypernetworks.keys()]}, refresh=reload_hypernetworks),
     "sd_hypernetwork_strength": OptionInfo(1.0, "Hypernetwork strength", gr.Slider, {"minimum": 0.0, "maximum": 1.0, "step": 0.001}),
     "inpainting_mask_weight": OptionInfo(1.0, "Inpainting conditioning mask strength", gr.Slider, {"minimum": 0.0, "maximum": 1.0, "step": 0.01}),
diff --git a/webui.py b/webui.py
index f4f1d74d1..2cd3bae91 100644
--- a/webui.py
+++ b/webui.py
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ def initialize():
     modules.sd_models.load_model()
     shared.opts.onchange("sd_model_checkpoint", wrap_queued_call(lambda: modules.sd_models.reload_model_weights()))
     shared.opts.onchange("sd_vae", wrap_queued_call(lambda: modules.sd_vae.reload_vae_weights()), call=False)
+    shared.opts.onchange("sd_vae_as_default", wrap_queued_call(lambda: modules.sd_vae.reload_vae_weights()), call=False)
     shared.opts.onchange("sd_hypernetwork", wrap_queued_call(lambda: modules.hypernetworks.hypernetwork.load_hypernetwork(shared.opts.sd_hypernetwork)))
     shared.opts.onchange("sd_hypernetwork_strength", modules.hypernetworks.hypernetwork.apply_strength)