diff --git a/docs/release-notes/rl-2211.adoc b/docs/release-notes/rl-2211.adoc
index dc33db077..8744a6330 100644
--- a/docs/release-notes/rl-2211.adoc
+++ b/docs/release-notes/rl-2211.adoc
@@ -8,7 +8,15 @@ This is the current unstable branch and the information in this section is there
 
 This release has the following notable changes:
 
-* No changes.
+* The <<opt-home.stateVersion>> option no longer has a default value.
+It used to default to ``18.09'', which was the Home Manager version
+that introduced the option. If your configuration does not explicitly
+set this option then you need to add
++
+[source,nix]
+home.stateVersion = "18.09";
++
+to your configuration.
 
 [[sec-release-22.11-state-version-changes]]
 === State Version Changes
diff --git a/modules/misc/version.nix b/modules/misc/version.nix
index c56b55ba2..25bc0afd8 100644
--- a/modules/misc/version.nix
+++ b/modules/misc/version.nix
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ with lib;
         "22.05"
         "22.11"
       ];
-      default = "18.09";
       description = ''
         It is occasionally necessary for Home Manager to change
         configuration defaults in a way that is incompatible with
diff --git a/tests/default.nix b/tests/default.nix
index ada8c40f2..919b142bb 100644
--- a/tests/default.nix
+++ b/tests/default.nix
@@ -14,8 +14,11 @@ let
       # Fix impurities. Without these some of the user's environment
       # will leak into the tests through `builtins.getEnv`.
       xdg.enable = true;
-      home.username = "hm-user";
-      home.homeDirectory = "/home/hm-user";
+      home = {
+        username = "hm-user";
+        homeDirectory = "/home/hm-user";
+        stateVersion = lib.mkDefault "18.09";
+      };
 
       # Avoid including documentation since this will cause
       # unnecessary rebuilds of the tests.