diff --git a/addons/purchase/purchase.py b/addons/purchase/purchase.py
index d58ba4fbd25..2c999cdabe9 100644
--- a/addons/purchase/purchase.py
+++ b/addons/purchase/purchase.py
@@ -612,6 +612,14 @@ class purchase_order_line(osv.osv):
             res[line.id] = cur_obj.round(cr, uid, cur, taxes['total'])
         return res
 
+    def _get_uom_id(self, cr, uid, context=None):
+        try:
+            proxy = self.pool.get('ir.model.data')
+            result = proxy.get_object_reference(cr, uid, 'product', 'product_uom_unit')
+            return result[1]
+        except Exception, ex:
+            return False
+    
     _columns = {
         'name': fields.char('Description', size=256, required=True),
         'product_qty': fields.float('Quantity', required=True, digits=(16,2)),
@@ -639,6 +647,7 @@ class purchase_order_line(osv.osv):
 
     }
     _defaults = {
+        'product_uom' : _get_uom_id,
         'product_qty': lambda *a: 1.0,
         'state': lambda *args: 'draft',
         'invoiced': lambda *a: 0,
diff --git a/addons/sale/sale.py b/addons/sale/sale.py
index a37c9331c71..8fb259b1d0f 100644
--- a/addons/sale/sale.py
+++ b/addons/sale/sale.py
@@ -838,6 +838,14 @@ class sale_order_line(osv.osv):
                 res[line.id] = 1
         return res
 
+    def _get_uom_id(self, cr, uid, *args):
+        try:
+            proxy = self.pool.get('ir.model.data')
+            result = proxy.get_object_reference(cr, uid, 'product', 'product_uom_unit')
+            return result[1]
+        except Exception, ex:
+            return False
+    
     _name = 'sale.order.line'
     _description = 'Sales Order Line'
     _columns = {
@@ -877,6 +885,7 @@ class sale_order_line(osv.osv):
     }
     _order = 'sequence, id'
     _defaults = {
+        'product_uom' : _get_uom_id,
         'discount': 0.0,
         'delay': 0.0,
         'product_uom_qty': 1,