diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 4506011256b..a7750ab7e6a 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -2851,7 +2851,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "libp2p-kad"
-version = "0.45.3"
+version = "0.45.4"
 dependencies = [
  "arrayvec",
  "async-std",
@@ -3217,7 +3217,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "libp2p-server"
-version = "0.12.5"
+version = "0.12.6"
 dependencies = [
  "base64 0.21.7",
  "clap",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 0624c44b390..3d7097f9a88 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ libp2p-floodsub = { version = "0.44.0", path = "protocols/floodsub" }
 libp2p-gossipsub = { version = "0.46.1", path = "protocols/gossipsub" }
 libp2p-identify = { version = "0.44.2", path = "protocols/identify" }
 libp2p-identity = { version = "0.2.8" }
-libp2p-kad = { version = "0.45.3", path = "protocols/kad" }
+libp2p-kad = { version = "0.45.4", path = "protocols/kad" }
 libp2p-mdns = { version = "0.45.1", path = "protocols/mdns" }
 libp2p-memory-connection-limits = { version = "0.2.0", path = "misc/memory-connection-limits" }
 libp2p-metrics = { version = "0.14.1", path = "misc/metrics" }
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ libp2p-quic = { version = "0.10.2", path = "transports/quic" }
 libp2p-relay = { version = "0.17.1", path = "protocols/relay" }
 libp2p-rendezvous = { version = "0.14.0", path = "protocols/rendezvous" }
 libp2p-request-response = { version = "0.26.2", path = "protocols/request-response" }
-libp2p-server = { version = "0.12.5", path = "misc/server" }
+libp2p-server = { version = "0.12.6", path = "misc/server" }
 libp2p-stream = { version = "0.1.0-alpha", path = "protocols/stream" }
 libp2p-swarm = { version = "0.44.2", path = "swarm" }
 libp2p-swarm-derive = { version = "=0.34.3", path = "swarm-derive" } # `libp2p-swarm-derive` may not be compatible with different `libp2p-swarm` non-breaking releases. E.g. `libp2p-swarm` might introduce a new enum variant `FromSwarm` (which is `#[non-exhaustive]`) in a non-breaking release. Older versions of `libp2p-swarm-derive` would not forward this enum variant within the `NetworkBehaviour` hierarchy. Thus the version pinning is required.
diff --git a/examples/ipfs-kad/src/main.rs b/examples/ipfs-kad/src/main.rs
index 0d11bdd851a..95921d6fa35 100644
--- a/examples/ipfs-kad/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/ipfs-kad/src/main.rs
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
 use anyhow::{bail, Result};
 use clap::Parser;
 use futures::StreamExt;
-use libp2p::{bytes::BufMut, identity, kad, noise, swarm::SwarmEvent, tcp, yamux, PeerId};
+use libp2p::swarm::{StreamProtocol, SwarmEvent};
+use libp2p::{bytes::BufMut, identity, kad, noise, tcp, yamux, PeerId};
 use tracing_subscriber::EnvFilter;
 
 const BOOTNODES: [&str; 4] = [
@@ -37,6 +38,8 @@ const BOOTNODES: [&str; 4] = [
     "QmcZf59bWwK5XFi76CZX8cbJ4BhTzzA3gU1ZjYZcYW3dwt",
 ];
 
+const IPFS_PROTO_NAME: StreamProtocol = StreamProtocol::new("/ipfs/kad/1.0.0");
+
 #[tokio::main]
 async fn main() -> Result<()> {
     let _ = tracing_subscriber::fmt()
@@ -56,7 +59,7 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
         .with_dns()?
         .with_behaviour(|key| {
             // Create a Kademlia behaviour.
-            let mut cfg = kad::Config::default();
+            let mut cfg = kad::Config::new(IPFS_PROTO_NAME);
             cfg.set_query_timeout(Duration::from_secs(5 * 60));
             let store = kad::store::MemoryStore::new(key.public().to_peer_id());
             kad::Behaviour::with_config(key.public().to_peer_id(), store, cfg)
diff --git a/misc/server/CHANGELOG.md b/misc/server/CHANGELOG.md
index e4c5dd4a103..484964e27e9 100644
--- a/misc/server/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/misc/server/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+## 0.12.6
+
+### Changed
+- Stop using kad default protocol.
+  See [PR 5122](https://github.com/libp2p/rust-libp2p/pull/5122)
+
 ## 0.12.5
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/misc/server/Cargo.toml b/misc/server/Cargo.toml
index f300e177b6c..9653ddc5d76 100644
--- a/misc/server/Cargo.toml
+++ b/misc/server/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "libp2p-server"
-version = "0.12.5"
+version = "0.12.6"
 authors = ["Max Inden <mail@max-inden.de>"]
 edition = "2021"
 repository = "https://github.com/libp2p/rust-libp2p"
diff --git a/misc/server/src/behaviour.rs b/misc/server/src/behaviour.rs
index ec025e02129..36b18c9798d 100644
--- a/misc/server/src/behaviour.rs
+++ b/misc/server/src/behaviour.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ use libp2p::kad;
 use libp2p::ping;
 use libp2p::relay;
 use libp2p::swarm::behaviour::toggle::Toggle;
-use libp2p::{identity, swarm::NetworkBehaviour, Multiaddr, PeerId};
+use libp2p::swarm::{NetworkBehaviour, StreamProtocol};
+use libp2p::{identity, Multiaddr, PeerId};
 use std::str::FromStr;
 use std::time::Duration;
 
@@ -15,6 +16,8 @@ const BOOTNODES: [&str; 4] = [
     "QmcZf59bWwK5XFi76CZX8cbJ4BhTzzA3gU1ZjYZcYW3dwt",
 ];
 
+const IPFS_PROTO_NAME: StreamProtocol = StreamProtocol::new("/ipfs/kad/1.0.0");
+
 #[derive(NetworkBehaviour)]
 pub(crate) struct Behaviour {
     relay: relay::Behaviour,
@@ -31,7 +34,7 @@ impl Behaviour {
         enable_autonat: bool,
     ) -> Self {
         let kademlia = if enable_kademlia {
-            let mut kademlia_config = kad::Config::default();
+            let mut kademlia_config = kad::Config::new(IPFS_PROTO_NAME);
             // Instantly remove records and provider records.
             //
             // TODO: Replace hack with option to disable both.
diff --git a/protocols/kad/CHANGELOG.md b/protocols/kad/CHANGELOG.md
index b27a6943659..f7baee2d288 100644
--- a/protocols/kad/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/protocols/kad/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+## 0.45.4
+
+- Make it mandatory to provide protocol names when creating a `kad::Config`.
+  Deprecate `kad::Config::default()`, replaced by `kad::Config::new(StreamProtocol)`.
+  See [PR 5122](https://github.com/libp2p/rust-libp2p/pull/5122).
+
 ## 0.45.3
 
 - The progress of the close query iterator shall be decided by ANY of the new peers.
diff --git a/protocols/kad/Cargo.toml b/protocols/kad/Cargo.toml
index 96f5f10819f..bde0d5f7c84 100644
--- a/protocols/kad/Cargo.toml
+++ b/protocols/kad/Cargo.toml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ name = "libp2p-kad"
 edition = "2021"
 rust-version = { workspace = true }
 description = "Kademlia protocol for libp2p"
-version = "0.45.3"
+version = "0.45.4"
 authors = ["Parity Technologies <admin@parity.io>"]
 license = "MIT"
 repository = "https://github.com/libp2p/rust-libp2p"
diff --git a/protocols/kad/src/behaviour.rs b/protocols/kad/src/behaviour.rs
index f7e2fb3a032..b237fe11dda 100644
--- a/protocols/kad/src/behaviour.rs
+++ b/protocols/kad/src/behaviour.rs
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ mod test;
 
 use crate::addresses::Addresses;
 use crate::handler::{Handler, HandlerEvent, HandlerIn, RequestId};
-use crate::jobs::*;
 use crate::kbucket::{self, Distance, KBucketsTable, NodeStatus};
 use crate::protocol::{ConnectionType, KadPeer, ProtocolConfig};
 use crate::query::{Query, QueryConfig, QueryId, QueryPool, QueryPoolState};
@@ -34,6 +33,7 @@ use crate::record::{
     ProviderRecord, Record,
 };
 use crate::K_VALUE;
+use crate::{jobs::*, protocol};
 use fnv::{FnvHashMap, FnvHashSet};
 use instant::Instant;
 use libp2p_core::{ConnectedPoint, Endpoint, Multiaddr};
@@ -184,20 +184,11 @@ pub struct Config {
 }
 
 impl Default for Config {
+    /// Returns the default configuration.
+    ///
+    /// Deprecated: use `Config::new` instead.
     fn default() -> Self {
-        Config {
-            kbucket_pending_timeout: Duration::from_secs(60),
-            query_config: QueryConfig::default(),
-            protocol_config: Default::default(),
-            record_ttl: Some(Duration::from_secs(36 * 60 * 60)),
-            record_replication_interval: Some(Duration::from_secs(60 * 60)),
-            record_publication_interval: Some(Duration::from_secs(24 * 60 * 60)),
-            record_filtering: StoreInserts::Unfiltered,
-            provider_publication_interval: Some(Duration::from_secs(12 * 60 * 60)),
-            provider_record_ttl: Some(Duration::from_secs(24 * 60 * 60)),
-            kbucket_inserts: BucketInserts::OnConnected,
-            caching: Caching::Enabled { max_peers: 1 },
-        }
+        Self::new(protocol::DEFAULT_PROTO_NAME)
     }
 }
 
@@ -217,6 +208,30 @@ pub enum Caching {
 }
 
 impl Config {
+    /// Builds a new `Config` with the given protocol name.
+    pub fn new(protocol_name: StreamProtocol) -> Self {
+        Config {
+            kbucket_pending_timeout: Duration::from_secs(60),
+            query_config: QueryConfig::default(),
+            protocol_config: ProtocolConfig::new(protocol_name),
+            record_ttl: Some(Duration::from_secs(36 * 60 * 60)),
+            record_replication_interval: Some(Duration::from_secs(60 * 60)),
+            record_publication_interval: Some(Duration::from_secs(24 * 60 * 60)),
+            record_filtering: StoreInserts::Unfiltered,
+            provider_publication_interval: Some(Duration::from_secs(12 * 60 * 60)),
+            provider_record_ttl: Some(Duration::from_secs(24 * 60 * 60)),
+            kbucket_inserts: BucketInserts::OnConnected,
+            caching: Caching::Enabled { max_peers: 1 },
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Returns the default configuration.
+    #[deprecated(note = "Use `Config::new` instead")]
+    #[allow(clippy::should_implement_trait)]
+    pub fn default() -> Self {
+        Default::default()
+    }
+
     /// Sets custom protocol names.
     ///
     /// Kademlia nodes only communicate with other nodes using the same protocol
@@ -226,6 +241,8 @@ impl Config {
     /// More than one protocol name can be supplied. In this case the node will
     /// be able to talk to other nodes supporting any of the provided names.
     /// Multiple names must be used with caution to avoid network partitioning.
+    #[deprecated(note = "Use `Config::new` instead")]
+    #[allow(deprecated)]
     pub fn set_protocol_names(&mut self, names: Vec<StreamProtocol>) -> &mut Self {
         self.protocol_config.set_protocol_names(names);
         self
diff --git a/protocols/kad/src/behaviour/test.rs b/protocols/kad/src/behaviour/test.rs
index 522eebcba92..20378bb6a3f 100644
--- a/protocols/kad/src/behaviour/test.rs
+++ b/protocols/kad/src/behaviour/test.rs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ use super::*;
 
 use crate::kbucket::Distance;
 use crate::record::{store::MemoryStore, Key};
-use crate::{K_VALUE, SHA_256_MH};
+use crate::{K_VALUE, PROTOCOL_NAME, SHA_256_MH};
 use futures::{executor::block_on, future::poll_fn, prelude::*};
 use futures_timer::Delay;
 use libp2p_core::{
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ fn bootstrap() {
         // or smaller than K_VALUE.
         let num_group = rng.gen_range(1..(num_total % K_VALUE.get()) + 2);
 
-        let mut cfg = Config::default();
+        let mut cfg = Config::new(PROTOCOL_NAME);
         if rng.gen() {
             cfg.disjoint_query_paths(true);
         }
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ fn put_record() {
         // At least 4 nodes, 1 under test + 3 bootnodes.
         let num_total = usize::max(4, replication_factor.get() * 2);
 
-        let mut config = Config::default();
+        let mut config = Config::new(PROTOCOL_NAME);
         config.set_replication_factor(replication_factor);
         if rng.gen() {
             config.disjoint_query_paths(true);
@@ -867,7 +867,7 @@ fn add_provider() {
         // At least 4 nodes, 1 under test + 3 bootnodes.
         let num_total = usize::max(4, replication_factor.get() * 2);
 
-        let mut config = Config::default();
+        let mut config = Config::new(PROTOCOL_NAME);
         config.set_replication_factor(replication_factor);
         if rng.gen() {
             config.disjoint_query_paths(true);
@@ -1083,14 +1083,14 @@ fn exp_decr_expiration_overflow() {
     }
 
     // Right shifting a u64 by >63 results in a panic.
-    prop_no_panic(Config::default().record_ttl.unwrap(), 64);
+    prop_no_panic(Config::new(PROTOCOL_NAME).record_ttl.unwrap(), 64);
 
     quickcheck(prop_no_panic as fn(_, _))
 }
 
 #[test]
 fn disjoint_query_does_not_finish_before_all_paths_did() {
-    let mut config = Config::default();
+    let mut config = Config::new(PROTOCOL_NAME);
     config.disjoint_query_paths(true);
     // I.e. setting the amount disjoint paths to be explored to 2.
     config.set_parallelism(NonZeroUsize::new(2).unwrap());
@@ -1238,7 +1238,7 @@ fn disjoint_query_does_not_finish_before_all_paths_did() {
 /// the routing table with `BucketInserts::Manual`.
 #[test]
 fn manual_bucket_inserts() {
-    let mut cfg = Config::default();
+    let mut cfg = Config::new(PROTOCOL_NAME);
     cfg.set_kbucket_inserts(BucketInserts::Manual);
     // 1 -> 2 -> [3 -> ...]
     let mut swarms = build_connected_nodes_with_config(3, 1, cfg);
diff --git a/protocols/kad/src/protocol.rs b/protocols/kad/src/protocol.rs
index 7fe2d1130b1..5abe2089852 100644
--- a/protocols/kad/src/protocol.rs
+++ b/protocols/kad/src/protocol.rs
@@ -144,6 +144,21 @@ pub struct ProtocolConfig {
 }
 
 impl ProtocolConfig {
+    /// Builds a new `ProtocolConfig` with the given protocol name.
+    pub fn new(protocol_name: StreamProtocol) -> Self {
+        ProtocolConfig {
+            protocol_names: vec![protocol_name],
+            max_packet_size: DEFAULT_MAX_PACKET_SIZE,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Returns the default configuration.
+    #[deprecated(note = "Use `ProtocolConfig::new` instead")]
+    #[allow(clippy::should_implement_trait)]
+    pub fn default() -> Self {
+        Default::default()
+    }
+
     /// Returns the configured protocol name.
     pub fn protocol_names(&self) -> &[StreamProtocol] {
         &self.protocol_names
@@ -151,6 +166,7 @@ impl ProtocolConfig {
 
     /// Modifies the protocol names used on the wire. Can be used to create incompatibilities
     /// between networks on purpose.
+    #[deprecated(note = "Use `ProtocolConfig::new` instead")]
     pub fn set_protocol_names(&mut self, names: Vec<StreamProtocol>) {
         self.protocol_names = names;
     }
@@ -162,6 +178,9 @@ impl ProtocolConfig {
 }
 
 impl Default for ProtocolConfig {
+    /// Returns the default configuration.
+    ///
+    /// Deprecated: use `ProtocolConfig::new` instead.
     fn default() -> Self {
         ProtocolConfig {
             protocol_names: iter::once(DEFAULT_PROTO_NAME).collect(),
diff --git a/protocols/kad/tests/client_mode.rs b/protocols/kad/tests/client_mode.rs
index f290a36b727..6aceeb27263 100644
--- a/protocols/kad/tests/client_mode.rs
+++ b/protocols/kad/tests/client_mode.rs
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ impl MyBehaviour {
             kad: Behaviour::with_config(
                 local_peer_id,
                 MemoryStore::new(local_peer_id),
-                Config::default(),
+                Config::new(libp2p_kad::PROTOCOL_NAME),
             ),
         }
     }