diff --git src/bp-members/classes/class-bp-members-component.php src/bp-members/classes/class-bp-members-component.php
index 01659b3a2..20c3eccee 100644
--- src/bp-members/classes/class-bp-members-component.php
+++ src/bp-members/classes/class-bp-members-component.php
@@ -232,14 +232,23 @@ class BP_Members_Component extends BP_Component {
 		 */
 		if ( bp_displayed_user_has_front_template() ) {
 			$bp->default_component = 'front';
-		} elseif ( defined( 'BP_DEFAULT_COMPONENT' ) && BP_DEFAULT_COMPONENT ) {
-			$bp->default_component = BP_DEFAULT_COMPONENT;
 		} elseif ( bp_is_active( 'activity' ) && isset( $bp->pages->activity ) ) {
 			$bp->default_component = bp_get_activity_slug();
 		} else {
 			$bp->default_component = ( 'xprofile' === $bp->profile->id ) ? 'profile' : $bp->profile->id;
 		}
 
+		if ( defined( 'BP_DEFAULT_COMPONENT' ) && BP_DEFAULT_COMPONENT ) {
+			$default_component = BP_DEFAULT_COMPONENT;
+			if ( 'profile' === $default_component ) {
+				$default_component = 'xprofile';
+			}
+
+			if ( bp_is_active( $default_component ) ) {
+				$bp->default_component = BP_DEFAULT_COMPONENT;
+			}
+		}
+
 		/** Canonical Component Stack ****************************************
 		 */