diff --git a/cromulant/ants.py b/cromulant/ants.py
index aac185b..f7bde8d 100644
--- a/cromulant/ants.py
+++ b/cromulant/ants.py
@@ -90,6 +90,12 @@ class Ants:
     @staticmethod
     def prepare() -> None:
         Ants.get()
+        Ants.check()
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def check() -> None:
+        if not Ants.ants:
+            Ants.populate(Config.default_population)
 
     @staticmethod
     def hatch(num: int = 1, on_change: bool = True) -> None:
diff --git a/cromulant/config.py b/cromulant/config.py
index 7123d94..1be0447 100644
--- a/cromulant/config.py
+++ b/cromulant/config.py
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ class Config:
     countries_json: Path
     filter_width: int = 150
     filter_debouncer_delay: int = 200
+    default_population: int = 100
 
     @staticmethod
     def prepare() -> None:
diff --git a/cromulant/game.py b/cromulant/game.py
index 4a0e118..36016cf 100644
--- a/cromulant/game.py
+++ b/cromulant/game.py
@@ -287,8 +287,15 @@ class Game:
     @staticmethod
     def restart() -> None:
         opts = ["25", "50", "100", "250"]
+        defindex = 0
+
+        for i, opt in enumerate(opts):
+            if int(opt) == Config.default_population:
+                defindex = i
+                break
+
         opts = [f"{opt} ants" for opt in opts]
-        size = Window.prompt_combobox("Size of the population", opts, 2)
+        size = Window.prompt_combobox("Size of the population", opts, defindex)
 
         if not size:
             return