diff --git a/src/keyboard/ergodox/layout.h b/src/keyboard/ergodox/layout.h
index 7454dff..0cf5fee 100644
--- a/src/keyboard/ergodox/layout.h
+++ b/src/keyboard/ergodox/layout.h
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 	// include the appropriate keyboard layout header
 	// for:
-	// - number of layers
+	// - possible non-default number of layers
 	// - possible non-default layout matrix definitions
 	// - possible non-default layout 'get' and 'set' definitions
 	#undef _str
@@ -35,6 +35,12 @@
 	#undef _inc
 
 
+	// default number of layers
+	#ifndef KB_LAYERS
+		#define KB_LAYERS 10
+	#endif
+
+
 	// default layout 'get' macros and `extern` matrix declarations
 	//
 	// these are for when the matrices are stored solely in Flash.  layouts
diff --git a/src/keyboard/ergodox/layout/qwerty.h b/src/keyboard/ergodox/layout/qwerty.h
index 097927a..950b5db 100644
--- a/src/keyboard/ergodox/layout/qwerty.h
+++ b/src/keyboard/ergodox/layout/qwerty.h
@@ -13,8 +13,6 @@
 	#include "../led.h"
 
 
-	#define KB_LAYERS 2  // must match what's defined in "qwerty.c"
-
 	#define kb_led_num_on()      _led_1_on()
 	#define kb_led_num_off()     _led_1_off()
 	#define kb_led_caps_on()     _led_2_on()