diff --git a/sqlmesh/core/model/definition.py b/sqlmesh/core/model/definition.py
index e8e122dece..7c56e01c0b 100644
--- a/sqlmesh/core/model/definition.py
+++ b/sqlmesh/core/model/definition.py
@@ -2361,7 +2361,15 @@ def load_sql_based_model(
         **meta_fields,
     )
 
-    kind = common_kwargs.pop("kind", ModelMeta.all_field_infos()["kind"].default)
+    kind = common_kwargs.pop("kind", None)
+    if kind is None:
+        # Use the project's default kind, if any, before falling back to the ModelMeta default
+        default_kind = rendered_defaults.get("kind")
+        kind = (
+            create_model_kind(default_kind, dialect, rendered_defaults)
+            if default_kind is not None
+            else ModelMeta.all_field_infos()["kind"].default
+        )
 
     if kind.name != ModelKindName.SEED:
         return create_sql_model(
diff --git a/tests/core/test_model.py b/tests/core/test_model.py
index c9045c9506..1e8033d657 100644
--- a/tests/core/test_model.py
+++ b/tests/core/test_model.py
@@ -7004,6 +7004,33 @@ def test_end_no_start():
     load_sql_based_model(expressions, defaults={"start": "2023-01-01"})
 
 
+def test_model_defaults_kind():
+    defaults = ModelDefaultsConfig(dialect="duckdb", kind="full").dict()
+
+    model = load_sql_based_model(
+        parse(
+            """
+            MODEL (name db.table);
+            SELECT 1 AS a
+            """
+        ),
+        defaults=defaults,
+    )
+    assert model.kind.name == ModelKindName.FULL
+
+    # a kind set on the model itself still takes precedence
+    model = load_sql_based_model(
+        parse(
+            """
+            MODEL (name db.table, kind VIEW);
+            SELECT 1 AS a
+            """
+        ),
+        defaults=defaults,
+    )
+    assert model.kind.name == ModelKindName.VIEW
+
+
 def test_variables():
     @macro()
     def test_macro_var(evaluator) -> exp.Expr: