diff --git a/pyiron_workflow/mixin/storage.py b/pyiron_workflow/mixin/storage.py
index 24d0abca..0c092f33 100644
--- a/pyiron_workflow/mixin/storage.py
+++ b/pyiron_workflow/mixin/storage.py
@@ -350,7 +350,15 @@ def load(self):
         Raises:
             TypeError: when the saved node has a different class name.
         """
-        self.storage.load()
+        if self.storage.has_contents:
+            self.storage.load()
+        else:
+            # Check for saved content using any other backend
+            for backend in self.allowed_backends():
+                interface = self._storage_interfaces()[backend](self)
+                if interface.has_contents:
+                    interface.load()
+                    break
 
     save.__doc__ += _save_load_warnings
 
@@ -405,6 +413,13 @@ def storage(self) -> StorageInterface:
             raise ValueError(f"{self.label} does not have a storage backend set")
         return self._storage_interfaces()[self.storage_backend](self)
 
+    @property
+    def any_storage_has_contents(self):
+        return any(
+            self._storage_interfaces()[backend](self).has_contents
+            for backend in self.allowed_backends()
+        )
+
     @property
     def import_ready(self) -> bool:
         """
@@ -444,6 +459,9 @@ def _storage_interfaces(cls):
         interfaces["pickle"] = PickleStorage
         return interfaces
 
+    @classmethod
+    def default_backend(cls):
+        return "pickle"
 
 class HasH5ioStorage(HasStorage, ABC):
     @classmethod
@@ -467,7 +485,3 @@ def to_storage(self, storage: TinybaseStorage):
     @abstractmethod
     def from_storage(self, storage: TinybaseStorage):
         pass
-
-    @classmethod
-    def default_backend(cls):
-        return "tinybase"
diff --git a/pyiron_workflow/node.py b/pyiron_workflow/node.py
index 66762d15..b213cf06 100644
--- a/pyiron_workflow/node.py
+++ b/pyiron_workflow/node.py
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ def __init__(
         parent: Optional[Composite] = None,
         overwrite_save: bool = False,
         run_after_init: bool = False,
-        storage_backend: Literal["h5io", "tinybase", "pickle"] | None = "h5io",
+        storage_backend: Literal["h5io", "tinybase", "pickle"] | None = "pickle",
         save_after_run: bool = False,
         **kwargs,
     ):
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ def _after_node_setup(
             self.delete_storage()
             do_load = False
         else:
-            do_load = sys.version_info >= (3, 11) and self.storage.has_contents
+            do_load = sys.version_info >= (3, 11) and self.any_storage_has_contents
 
         if do_load and run_after_init:
             raise ValueError(
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_node.py b/tests/unit/test_node.py
index a93a98e5..17a92227 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_node.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_node.py
@@ -497,6 +497,43 @@ def test_storage(self):
                     hard_input.delete_storage()
                     self.n1.delete_storage()
 
+    @unittest.skipIf(sys.version_info < (3, 11), "Storage will only work in 3.11+")
+    def test_storage_compatibility(self):
+        try:
+            self.n1.storage_backend = "tinybase"
+            self.n1.inputs.x = 42
+            self.n1.save()
+            new_n1 = ANode(label=self.n1.label, storage_backend="pickle")
+            self.assertEqual(
+                new_n1.inputs.x.value,
+                self.n1.inputs.x.value,
+                msg="Even though the new node has a different storage backend, it "
+                    "should still _load_ the data saved with a different backend. To "
+                    "really avoid loading, delete or move the existing save file, or "
+                    "give your new node a different label."
+            )
+            new_n1()
+            new_n1.save()  # With a different backend now
+
+            tiny_n1 = ANode(label=self.n1.label, storage_backend="tinybase")
+            self.assertIs(
+                tiny_n1.outputs.y.value,
+                NOT_DATA,
+                msg="By explicitly specifying a particular backend, we expect to "
+                    "recover that backend's save-file, even if it is outdated"
+            )
+
+            pick_n1 = ANode(label=self.n1.label, storage_backend="pickle")
+            self.assertEqual(
+                pick_n1.outputs.y.value,
+                new_n1.outputs.y.value,
+                msg="If we specify the more-recently-saved backend, we expect to load "
+                    "the corresponding save file, where output exists"
+            )
+        finally:
+            self.n1.delete_storage()
+
+
     @unittest.skipIf(sys.version_info < (3, 11), "Storage will only work in 3.11+")
     def test_save_after_run(self):
         for backend in Node.allowed_backends():