diff --git a/zerver/lib/actions.py b/zerver/lib/actions.py
index 7d34b52f5b..edced0d68e 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/actions.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/actions.py
@@ -1379,6 +1379,7 @@ def do_add_default_stream(realm, stream_name):
     if DefaultStream.objects.filter(realm=realm, stream=stream).exists():
         return
     DefaultStream.objects.create(realm=realm, stream=stream)
+    return {}
 
 def do_remove_default_stream(realm, stream_name):
     DefaultStream.objects.filter(realm=realm, stream__name=stream_name).delete()
diff --git a/zerver/tests.py b/zerver/tests.py
index bef97e5f9a..14ff8e772c 100644
--- a/zerver/tests.py
+++ b/zerver/tests.py
@@ -1044,6 +1044,15 @@ class DefaultStreamTest(AuthedTestCase):
         do_remove_default_stream(realm, 'Added Stream')
         self.assertEqual(self.get_default_stream_names(realm), orig_stream_names)
 
+    def test_api_calls(self):
+        self.login("hamlet@zulip.com")
+        user_profile = get_user_profile_by_email('hamlet@zulip.com')
+        do_change_is_admin(user_profile, True)
+        stream_name = 'stream ADDED via api'
+        result = self.client_patch('/json/default_streams', dict(stream_name=stream_name))
+        self.assert_json_success(result)
+        self.assertTrue(stream_name in self.get_default_stream_names(user_profile.realm))
+
 class LoginTest(AuthedTestCase):
     """
     Logging in, registration, and logging out.
diff --git a/zerver/views/__init__.py b/zerver/views/__init__.py
index 0093a975f6..4d5dbacef1 100644
--- a/zerver/views/__init__.py
+++ b/zerver/views/__init__.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ from zerver.lib.actions import bulk_remove_subscriptions, do_change_password, \
     notify_for_streams_by_default, do_change_enable_offline_push_notifications, \
     do_deactivate_stream, do_change_autoscroll_forever, do_make_stream_public, \
     do_make_stream_private, do_change_default_desktop_notifications, \
-    do_change_stream_description, do_update_pointer
+    do_change_stream_description, do_update_pointer, do_add_default_stream
 from zerver.lib.create_user import random_api_key
 from zerver.lib.push_notifications import num_push_devices_for_user
 from zerver.forms import RegistrationForm, HomepageForm, ToSForm, \
@@ -1073,6 +1073,11 @@ def get_public_streams_backend(request, user_profile):
     return get_streams_backend(request, user_profile, include_public=True,
                                include_subscribed=False, include_all_active=False)
 
+@require_realm_admin
+@has_request_variables
+def add_default_stream(request, user_profile, stream_name=REQ):
+    return json_success(do_add_default_stream(user_profile.realm, stream_name))
+
 @authenticated_json_post_view
 @require_realm_admin
 @has_request_variables
diff --git a/zproject/urls.py b/zproject/urls.py
index 8d998b3f8d..0dccac77c7 100644
--- a/zproject/urls.py
+++ b/zproject/urls.py
@@ -199,6 +199,8 @@ v1_api_and_json_patterns = patterns('zerver.views',
              'PUT': 'set_alert_words',
              'PATCH': 'add_alert_words',
              'DELETE': 'remove_alert_words'}),
+    url(r'^default_streams$', 'rest_dispatch',
+            {'PATCH': 'add_default_stream'}),
     url(r'^users/me/api_key/regenerate$', 'rest_dispatch',
             {'POST': 'regenerate_api_key'}),
     url(r'^users/me/presence$', 'rest_dispatch',