diff --git a/etc/sit.conf b/etc/sit.conf
index 8428723..533aaf1 100644
--- a/etc/sit.conf
+++ b/etc/sit.conf
@@ -13,3 +13,9 @@ SCLASS_DIR=${SCLASS_DIR:="$SIT_PATH/packages"}
 PREFIX_BASE=${PREFIX_BASE:="$HOME/bin"}
 
 MAKEOPTS="-j2"
+
+# default platform for unknown platforms
+DEFAULT_PLATFORM="laki"
+
+# default compiler
+DEFAULT_COMPILER="system"
diff --git a/sit b/sit
index 157e5e4..cb19e05 100755
--- a/sit
+++ b/sit
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ case $HOSTNAME in
 		PLATFORM="hermit"
 		;;
 	*)
-		sit_fail "Unknown host $HOSTNAME"
+		sit_info "Unknown host '$HOSTNAME' using default platform '${DEFAULT_PLATFORM}' configuration"
+		PLATFORM="${DEFAULT_PLATFORM}"
 		;;
 esac
 
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ sit_info "Platform: $PLATFORM"
 
 # compiler to use
 # (gnu|intel|pgi)
-COMPILER=${COMPILER:=system}
+COMPILER=${COMPILER:=${DEFAULT_COMPILER}}
 # use specific compiler version
 COMPILER_VERSION=${COMPILER_VERSION:=}