diff --git a/django/template/defaulttags.py b/django/template/defaulttags.py
index 06ad5c635a..091130956d 100644
--- a/django/template/defaulttags.py
+++ b/django/template/defaulttags.py
@@ -679,14 +679,14 @@ def do_for(parser, token):
                                       " %s" % token.contents)
 
     sequence = parser.compile_filter(bits[in_index+1])
-    nodelist_loop = parser.parse(('default', 'endfor',))
+    nodelist_loop = parser.parse(('empty', 'endfor',))
     token = parser.next_token()
-    if token.contents == 'default':
-        nodelist_default = parser.parse(('endfor',))
+    if token.contents == 'empty':
+        nodelist_empty = parser.parse(('endfor',))
         parser.delete_first_token()
     else:
-        nodelist_default = None
-    return ForNode(loopvars, sequence, is_reversed, nodelist_loop, nodelist_default)
+        nodelist_empty = None
+    return ForNode(loopvars, sequence, is_reversed, nodelist_loop, nodelist_empty)
 do_for = register.tag("for", do_for)
 
 def do_ifequal(parser, token, negate):
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/templates/tests.py b/tests/regressiontests/templates/tests.py
index 6e29666454..3cb4f46240 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/templates/tests.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/templates/tests.py
@@ -484,9 +484,9 @@ class Templates(unittest.TestCase):
             'for-tag-unpack11': ("{% for x,y,z in items %}{{ x }}:{{ y }},{{ z }}/{% endfor %}", {"items": (('one', 1), ('two', 2))}, ("one:1,/two:2,/", "one:1,INVALID/two:2,INVALID/")),
             'for-tag-unpack12': ("{% for x,y,z in items %}{{ x }}:{{ y }},{{ z }}/{% endfor %}", {"items": (('one', 1, 'carrot'), ('two', 2))}, ("one:1,carrot/two:2,/", "one:1,carrot/two:2,INVALID/")),
             'for-tag-unpack13': ("{% for x,y,z in items %}{{ x }}:{{ y }},{{ z }}/{% endfor %}", {"items": (('one', 1, 'carrot'), ('two', 2, 'cheese'))}, ("one:1,carrot/two:2,cheese/", "one:1,carrot/two:2,cheese/")),
-            'for-tag-default01': ("{% for val in values %}{{ val }}{% default %}default text{% endfor %}", {"values": [1, 2, 3]}, "123"),
-            'for-tag-default02': ("{% for val in values %}{{ val }}{% default %}values array empty{% endfor %}", {"values": []}, "values array empty"),
-            'for-tag-default03': ("{% for val in values %}{{ val }}{% default %}values array not found{% endfor %}", {}, "values array not found"),
+            'for-tag-empty01': ("{% for val in values %}{{ val }}{% empty %}empty text{% endfor %}", {"values": [1, 2, 3]}, "123"),
+            'for-tag-empty02': ("{% for val in values %}{{ val }}{% empty %}values array empty{% endfor %}", {"values": []}, "values array empty"),
+            'for-tag-empty03': ("{% for val in values %}{{ val }}{% empty %}values array not found{% endfor %}", {}, "values array not found"),
 
             ### IF TAG ################################################################
             'if-tag01': ("{% if foo %}yes{% else %}no{% endif %}", {"foo": True}, "yes"),