diff --git a/docs/usage.md b/docs/usage.md
index c2a3f9e..649ae33 100644
--- a/docs/usage.md
+++ b/docs/usage.md
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ pandoc-beamer-block:
   - classes: [info]
   - classes: [alert]
     type: alert
+    title: Danger
 ~~~
 
 The metadata block above is used to add a `block` environment around
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ Each entry of `pandoc-beamer-block` is a YAML dictionary containing:
   transformation will be applied. This parameter is mandatory.
 * `type`: the block type (either `alert`, `example`, `info`, `theorem`,
   `proof`, `corollary`, `definition`, `lemma` and `fact`)
+* `title`: an optional default title to use
 
 ## Example
 
diff --git a/src/pandoc_beamer_block/_main.py b/src/pandoc_beamer_block/_main.py
index b7d5f06..230d281 100644
--- a/src/pandoc_beamer_block/_main.py
+++ b/src/pandoc_beamer_block/_main.py
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ def prepare(doc: Doc):
             ):
                 definition["classes"] = frozenset(definition["classes"])
                 definition["type"] = definition.get("type", "info")
+                definition["title"] = definition.get("title", "")
                 doc.defined.append(definition)
 
 
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@ def block(elem: Element, doc: Doc) -> list[Element] | None:
                         output_format="latex",
                     )
                 else:
-                    title = ""
+                    title = definition["title"]
 
                 if definition["type"] == "alert":
                     return latex(elem, "alertblock", title)
diff --git a/tests/test_block.py b/tests/test_block.py
index 4743083..128b06c 100644
--- a/tests/test_block.py
+++ b/tests/test_block.py
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ def test_title_complex(self):
 ---
 pandoc-beamer-block:
   - classes: ['class1', 'class2']
+    title: Ignored
 ---
 ::: {.class1 .class2 title="**My Title**"}
 :::
@@ -141,3 +142,25 @@ def test_title_complex(self):
         )
         self.assertIn("\\begin{block}{\\textbf{My Title}}", text)
         self.assertIn("\\end{block}", text)
+
+    def test_title_default(self):
+        doc = BlockTest.conversion(
+            """
+---
+pandoc-beamer-block:
+  - classes: ['class1']
+    title: My Title
+---
+::: class1 :::
+:::
+            """,
+            "beamer",
+        )
+        text = convert_text(
+            doc,
+            input_format="panflute",
+            output_format="latex",
+            extra_args=["--wrap=none"],
+        )
+        self.assertIn("\\begin{block}{My Title}", text)
+        self.assertIn("\\end{block}", text)