diff --git a/.changeset/silly-spiders-switch.md b/.changeset/silly-spiders-switch.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c21605e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/silly-spiders-switch.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"typed-openapi": minor
+---
+
+Fix default response behavior (only use "default" as a fallback)
diff --git a/packages/typed-openapi/src/map-openapi-endpoints.ts b/packages/typed-openapi/src/map-openapi-endpoints.ts
index a7107fb..dd386cb 100644
--- a/packages/typed-openapi/src/map-openapi-endpoints.ts
+++ b/packages/typed-openapi/src/map-openapi-endpoints.ts
@@ -103,17 +103,16 @@ export const mapOpenApiEndpoints = (doc: OpenAPIObject) => {
         endpoint.parameters = Object.keys(params).length ? (params as any as EndpointParameters) : undefined;
       }
 
-      let responseObject;
-      // Match the default response or first 2xx-3xx response found
-      if (operation.responses.default) {
+      // Match the first 2xx-3xx response found, or fallback to default one otherwise
+      let responseObject: ResponseObject | undefined;
+      Object.entries(operation.responses).map(([status, responseOrRef]) => {
+        const statusCode = Number(status);
+        if (statusCode >= 200 && statusCode < 300) {
+          responseObject = refs.unwrap<ResponseObject>(responseOrRef);
+        }
+      });
+      if (!responseObject && operation.responses.default) {
         responseObject = refs.unwrap(operation.responses.default);
-      } else {
-        Object.entries(operation.responses).map(([status, responseOrRef]) => {
-          const statusCode = Number(status);
-          if (statusCode >= 200 && statusCode < 300) {
-            responseObject = refs.unwrap<ResponseObject>(responseOrRef);
-          }
-        });
       }
 
       const content = responseObject?.content;
diff --git a/packages/typed-openapi/tests/generator.test.ts b/packages/typed-openapi/tests/generator.test.ts
index 0826840..e1cdbce 100644
--- a/packages/typed-openapi/tests/generator.test.ts
+++ b/packages/typed-openapi/tests/generator.test.ts
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ describe("generator", () => {
           parameters: {
             body: Array<User>;
           };
-          response: unknown;
+          response: Schemas.User;
         };
         export type get_LoginUser = {
           method: "GET";
diff --git a/packages/typed-openapi/tests/map-openapi-endpoints.test.ts b/packages/typed-openapi/tests/map-openapi-endpoints.test.ts
index 3082a24..042aece 100644
--- a/packages/typed-openapi/tests/map-openapi-endpoints.test.ts
+++ b/packages/typed-openapi/tests/map-openapi-endpoints.test.ts
@@ -2196,8 +2196,8 @@ describe("map-openapi-endpoints", () => {
             },
             "path": "/user/createWithList",
             "response": {
-              "type": "keyword",
-              "value": "unknown",
+              "type": "ref",
+              "value": "User",
             },
           },
           {
diff --git a/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.arktype.ts b/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.arktype.ts
index dd78826..4cb0f4a 100644
--- a/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.arktype.ts
+++ b/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.arktype.ts
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ export const types = scope({
     parameters: {
       body: "User[]",
     },
-    response: "unknown",
+    response: "User",
   },
   get_LoginUser: {
     method: '"GET"',
diff --git a/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.client.ts b/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.client.ts
index afadedd..dc1ddd6 100644
--- a/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.client.ts
+++ b/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.client.ts
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ export namespace Endpoints {
     parameters: {
       body: Array<User>;
     };
-    response: unknown;
+    response: Schemas.User;
   };
   export type get_LoginUser = {
     method: "GET";
diff --git a/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.io-ts.ts b/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.io-ts.ts
index c1e0141..932df4b 100644
--- a/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.io-ts.ts
+++ b/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.io-ts.ts
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ export const post_CreateUsersWithListInput = t.type({
   parameters: t.type({
     body: t.array(User),
   }),
-  response: t.unknown,
+  response: User,
 });
 
 export type get_LoginUser = t.TypeOf<typeof get_LoginUser>;
diff --git a/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.typebox.ts b/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.typebox.ts
index 6492c31..8955ad0 100644
--- a/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.typebox.ts
+++ b/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.typebox.ts
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ export const post_CreateUsersWithListInput = Type.Object({
   parameters: Type.Object({
     body: Type.Array(User),
   }),
-  response: Type.Unknown(),
+  response: User,
 });
 
 export type get_LoginUser = Static<typeof get_LoginUser>;
diff --git a/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.valibot.ts b/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.valibot.ts
index 02fcf5f..2b8de58 100644
--- a/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.valibot.ts
+++ b/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.valibot.ts
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ export const post_CreateUsersWithListInput = v.object({
   parameters: v.object({
     body: v.array(User),
   }),
-  response: v.unknown(),
+  response: User,
 });
 
 export type get_LoginUser = v.Output<typeof get_LoginUser>;
diff --git a/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.yup.ts b/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.yup.ts
index 7195796..731bd47 100644
--- a/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.yup.ts
+++ b/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.yup.ts
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ export const post_CreateUsersWithListInput = {
   parameters: y.object({
     body: y.array(User),
   }),
-  response: y.mixed((value): value is any => true).required() as y.MixedSchema<unknown>,
+  response: User,
 };
 
 export type get_LoginUser = typeof get_LoginUser;
diff --git a/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.zod.ts b/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.zod.ts
index ef19b64..3377d42 100644
--- a/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.zod.ts
+++ b/packages/typed-openapi/tests/snapshots/petstore.zod.ts
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ export const post_CreateUsersWithListInput = {
   parameters: z.object({
     body: z.array(User),
   }),
-  response: z.unknown(),
+  response: User,
 };
 
 export type get_LoginUser = typeof get_LoginUser;