diff --git a/molgenis-data/src/main/java/org/molgenis/data/meta/model/EntityTypeMetadata.java b/molgenis-data/src/main/java/org/molgenis/data/meta/model/EntityTypeMetadata.java
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/molgenis-data/src/main/java/org/molgenis/data/meta/model/EntityTypeMetadata.java
+++ b/molgenis-data/src/main/java/org/molgenis/data/meta/model/EntityTypeMetadata.java
@@ -67,8 +67,8 @@ public class EntityTypeMetadata extends SystemEntityType
 		// TODO replace with autowired self-reference after update to Spring 4.3
 		addAttribute(EXTENDS).setDataType(XREF).setRefEntity(this).setReadOnly(true).setLabel("Extends");
 		addAttribute(TAGS).setDataType(MREF).setRefEntity(tagMetaData).setLabel("Tags");
-		addAttribute(BACKEND).setNillable(false).setReadOnly(true).setLabel("Backend")
-				.setDescription("Backend data store");
+		addAttribute(BACKEND).setDataType(ENUM).setEnumOptions(backendEnumOptions).setNillable(false).setReadOnly(true)
+				.setDefaultValue(defaultBackend).setLabel("Backend").setDescription("Backend data store");
 	}
 
 	/**
merge with molgenis/master