diff --git a/openpype/hosts/houdini/api/creator_node_shelves.py b/openpype/hosts/houdini/api/creator_node_shelves.py
index 7c6122cffee..1f9fef7417b 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/houdini/api/creator_node_shelves.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/houdini/api/creator_node_shelves.py
@@ -57,29 +57,32 @@ def create_interactive(creator_identifier, **kwargs):
         list: The created instances.
 
     """
+    host = registered_host()
+    context = CreateContext(host)
+    creator = context.manual_creators.get(creator_identifier)
+    if not creator:
+        raise RuntimeError("Invalid creator identifier: {}".format(
+            creator_identifier)
+        )
 
     # TODO Use Qt instead
-    result, variant = hou.ui.readInput('Define variant name',
-                                       buttons=("Ok", "Cancel"),
-                                       initial_contents='Main',
-                                       title="Define variant",
-                                       help="Set the variant for the "
-                                            "publish instance",
-                                       close_choice=1)
+    result, variant = hou.ui.readInput(
+        "Define variant name",
+        buttons=("Ok", "Cancel"),
+        initial_contents=creator.get_default_variant(),
+        title="Define variant",
+        help="Set the variant for the publish instance",
+        close_choice=1
+    )
+
     if result == 1:
         # User interrupted
         return
+
     variant = variant.strip()
     if not variant:
         raise RuntimeError("Empty variant value entered.")
 
-    host = registered_host()
-    context = CreateContext(host)
-    creator = context.manual_creators.get(creator_identifier)
-    if not creator:
-        raise RuntimeError("Invalid creator identifier: "
-                           "{}".format(creator_identifier))
-
     # TODO: Once more elaborate unique create behavior should exist per Creator
     #   instead of per network editor area then we should move this from here
     #   to a method on the Creators for which this could be the default