--- a/src/protocol/http/org/apache/jmeter/protocol/http/control/CookieManager.java	
+++ a/src/protocol/http/org/apache/jmeter/protocol/http/control/CookieManager.java	
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import java.util.ArrayList;
 import org.apache.http.client.config.CookieSpecs;
 import org.apache.jmeter.config.ConfigTestElement;
 import org.apache.jmeter.engine.event.LoopIterationEvent;
+import org.apache.jmeter.protocol.http.gui.CookiePanel;
 import org.apache.jmeter.testelement.TestIterationListener;
 import org.apache.jmeter.testelement.TestStateListener;
 import org.apache.jmeter.testelement.property.BooleanProperty;
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ public class CookieManager extends ConfigTestElement implements TestStateListene
      * @deprecated not intended for use outside this class (should have been created private)
      */
     @Deprecated
-    public static final String DEFAULT_IMPLEMENTATION = "org.apache.jmeter.protocol.http.control.HC3CookieHandler";
+    public static final String DEFAULT_IMPLEMENTATION = CookiePanel.DEFAULT_IMPLEMENTATION;
 
     public CookieManager() {
         clearCookies(); // Ensure that there is always a collection available
--- a/src/protocol/http/org/apache/jmeter/protocol/http/gui/CookiePanel.java	
+++ a/src/protocol/http/org/apache/jmeter/protocol/http/gui/CookiePanel.java	
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ public class CookiePanel extends AbstractConfigGui implements ActionListener {
     /**
      * The default implementation that is used when creating a new CookieManager
      */
-    private static final String DEFAULT_IMPLEMENTATION = HC4CookieHandler.class.getName();
+    public static final String DEFAULT_IMPLEMENTATION = HC4CookieHandler.class.getName();
 
     /**
      * The default policy that is used when creating a new CookieManager