diff --git a/gns3server/api/routes/controller/users.py b/gns3server/api/routes/controller/users.py
index 89d14275..2092b251 100644
--- a/gns3server/api/routes/controller/users.py
+++ b/gns3server/api/routes/controller/users.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ from gns3server import schemas
 from gns3server.controller.controller_error import (
     ControllerBadRequestError,
     ControllerNotFoundError,
-    ControllerUnauthorizedError,
+    ControllerForbiddenError,
 )
 
 from gns3server.db.repositories.users import UsersRepository
@@ -110,8 +110,8 @@ async def delete_user(
     Delete an user.
     """
 
-    if current_user.is_superuser:
-        raise ControllerUnauthorizedError("The super user cannot be deleted")
+    if current_user.is_superadmin:
+        raise ControllerForbiddenError("The super user cannot be deleted")
 
     success = await users_repo.delete_user(user_id)
     if not success:
diff --git a/gns3server/db/models/users.py b/gns3server/db/models/users.py
index 2dca0894..99108975 100644
--- a/gns3server/db/models/users.py
+++ b/gns3server/db/models/users.py
@@ -15,9 +15,14 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-from sqlalchemy import Boolean, Column, String
+from sqlalchemy import Boolean, Column, String, event
 
 from .base import BaseTable, generate_uuid, GUID
+from gns3server.services import auth_service
+
+import logging
+
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 class User(BaseTable):
@@ -30,4 +35,18 @@ class User(BaseTable):
     full_name = Column(String)
     hashed_password = Column(String)
     is_active = Column(Boolean, default=True)
-    is_superuser = Column(Boolean, default=False)
+    is_superadmin = Column(Boolean, default=False)
+
+@event.listens_for(User.__table__, 'after_create')
+def create_default_super_admin(target, connection, **kw):
+
+    hashed_password = auth_service.hash_password("admin")
+    stmt = target.insert().values(
+        username="admin",
+        full_name="Super Administrator",
+        hashed_password=hashed_password,
+        is_superadmin=True
+    )
+    connection.execute(stmt)
+    connection.commit()
+    log.info("Default super admin account added")
diff --git a/gns3server/schemas/controller/users.py b/gns3server/schemas/controller/users.py
index 1073311c..11aa100e 100644
--- a/gns3server/schemas/controller/users.py
+++ b/gns3server/schemas/controller/users.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class User(DateTimeModelMixin, UserBase):
 
     user_id: UUID
     is_active: bool = True
-    is_superuser: bool = False
+    is_superadmin: bool = False
 
     class Config:
         orm_mode = True
diff --git a/tests/api/routes/controller/test_users.py b/tests/api/routes/controller/test_users.py
index f8ad92f0..6fbfc7cf 100644
--- a/tests/api/routes/controller/test_users.py
+++ b/tests/api/routes/controller/test_users.py
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ class TestUserRoutes:
 
         response = await client.get(app.url_path_for("get_users"))
         assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_200_OK
-        assert len(response.json()) == 3  # user1, user2 and user3 should exist
+        assert len(response.json()) == 4  # admin, user1, user2 and user3 should exist
 
 
 class TestAuthTokens:
@@ -265,3 +265,30 @@ class TestUserMe:
 
         res = await client.get(app.url_path_for("get_current_active_user"))
         assert res.status_code == status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+
+
+class TestSuperAdmin:
+
+    async def test_super_admin_exists(
+            self,
+            app: FastAPI,
+            client: AsyncClient,
+            db_session: AsyncSession
+    ) -> None:
+
+        user_repo = UsersRepository(db_session)
+        admin_in_db = await user_repo.get_user_by_username("admin")
+        assert admin_in_db is not None
+        assert auth_service.verify_password("admin", admin_in_db.hashed_password)
+
+    async def test_cannot_delete_super_admin(
+            self,
+            app: FastAPI,
+            admin_client: AsyncClient,
+            db_session: AsyncSession
+    ) -> None:
+
+        user_repo = UsersRepository(db_session)
+        admin_in_db = await user_repo.get_user_by_username("admin")
+        res = await admin_client.delete(app.url_path_for("delete_user", user_id=admin_in_db.user_id))
+        assert res.status_code == status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index f54c1422..b75cd8b2 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -79,8 +79,12 @@ async def db_session(db_engine):
     # preferred and faster way would be to rollback the session/transaction
     # but it doesn't work for some reason
     async with db_engine.begin() as conn:
-        await conn.run_sync(Base.metadata.drop_all)
-        await conn.run_sync(Base.metadata.create_all)
+        # Speed up tests by avoiding to hash the 'admin' password everytime the default super admin is added
+        # to the database using the "after_create" sqlalchemy event
+        hashed_password = "$2b$12$jPsNU9IS7.EWEqXahtDfo.26w6VLOLCuFEHKNvDpOjxs5e0WpqJfa"
+        with patch("gns3server.services.authentication.AuthService.hash_password", return_value=hashed_password):
+            await conn.run_sync(Base.metadata.drop_all)
+            await conn.run_sync(Base.metadata.create_all)
 
     session = AsyncSession(db_engine)
     try:
@@ -152,6 +156,16 @@ def authorized_client(client: AsyncClient, test_user: User) -> AsyncClient:
     }
     return client
 
+@pytest.fixture
+async def admin_client(client: AsyncClient) -> AsyncClient:
+
+    # user "admin" is automatically created when the users table is created
+    access_token = auth_service.create_access_token("admin")
+    client.headers = {
+        **client.headers,
+        "Authorization": f"Bearer {access_token}",
+    }
+    return client
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def controller_config_path(tmpdir):