diff --git a/R/revealjs_presentation.R b/R/revealjs_presentation.R
index bdc4153..21212a7 100644
--- a/R/revealjs_presentation.R
+++ b/R/revealjs_presentation.R
@@ -100,9 +100,10 @@
 #'   be passed, using plugin name as first level key (e.g `list(slideNumber =
 #'   FALSE, menu = list(number = TRUE))`).
 #' @param reveal_plugins Reveal plugins to include. Available plugins include
-#'   "notes", "search", "zoom", "chalkboard", and "menu". Note that
-#'   `self_contained` must be set to `FALSE` in order to use Reveal
-#'   plugins.
+#'   "notes", "search", "zoom", "chalkboard", and "menu". Defaults to
+#'   `c("notes", "search", "menu", "zoom")`; pass `NULL` to render without
+#'   any plugins. Note that `self_contained` must be set to `FALSE` in order
+#'   to use Reveal plugins.
 #' @param template Pandoc template to use for rendering. Pass "default" to use
 #'   the rmarkdown package default template; pass `NULL` to use pandoc's
 #'   built-in template; pass a path to use a custom template that you've
@@ -143,7 +144,7 @@
                                   transition = "convex",
                                   background_transition = "fade",
                                   reveal_options = NULL,
-                                  reveal_plugins = NULL,
+                                  reveal_plugins = c("notes", "search", "menu", "zoom"),
                                   highlight = "default",
                                   mathjax = "default",
                                   template = "default",
@@ -257,7 +258,17 @@
 
     # validate that we need to use self_contained for plugins
     if (self_contained) {
-      stop("Using reveal_plugins requires self_contained: false")
+      if (missing(reveal_plugins)) {
+        # the default plugin set collided with an explicitly requested
+        # self_contained render -- drop the defaults instead of failing
+        warning("Reveal plugins require self_contained: false -- ",
+          "rendering without the default plugins.",
+          call. = FALSE
+        )
+        reveal_plugins <- character(0)
+      } else {
+        stop("Using reveal_plugins requires self_contained: false")
+      }
     }
 
     # validate specified plugins are supported
diff --git a/man/revealjs_presentation.Rd b/man/revealjs_presentation.Rd
index 0d291c2..c1c1ff2 100644
--- a/man/revealjs_presentation.Rd
+++ b/man/revealjs_presentation.Rd
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
   transition = "convex",
   background_transition = "fade",
   reveal_options = NULL,
-  reveal_plugins = NULL,
+  reveal_plugins = c("notes", "search", "menu", "zoom"),
   highlight = "default",
   mathjax = "default",
   template = "default",
@@ -84,9 +84,10 @@
 be passed, using plugin name as first level key (e.g \code{list(slideNumber = FALSE, menu = list(number = TRUE))}).}
 
 \item{reveal_plugins}{Reveal plugins to include. Available plugins include
-"notes", "search", "zoom", "chalkboard", and "menu". Note that
-\code{self_contained} must be set to \code{FALSE} in order to use Reveal
-plugins.}
+"notes", "search", "zoom", "chalkboard", and "menu". Defaults to
+\code{c("notes", "search", "menu", "zoom")}; pass \code{NULL} to render without
+any plugins. Note that \code{self_contained} must be set to \code{FALSE} in order
+to use Reveal plugins.}
 
 \item{highlight}{Syntax highlighting style passed to Pandoc.
 
@@ -233,7 +234,7 @@
 \dontrun{
 
 library(rmarkdown)
-library(revealjs)
+library(revealjs.ids)
 
 # simple invocation
 render("pres.Rmd", revealjs_presentation())