diff --git a/core/modules/rest/lib/Drupal/rest/Plugin/views/display/RestExport.php b/core/modules/rest/lib/Drupal/rest/Plugin/views/display/RestExport.php
index 6fd2170..fc69554 100644
--- a/core/modules/rest/lib/Drupal/rest/Plugin/views/display/RestExport.php
+++ b/core/modules/rest/lib/Drupal/rest/Plugin/views/display/RestExport.php
@@ -79,13 +79,9 @@ public function initDisplay(ViewExecutable $view, array &$display, array &$optio
     $request = $container->get('request');
 
     $request_content_type = $negotiation->getContentType($request);
-    // Only set the requested content type if it's not html.
-    if ($request_content_type === 'html') {
-      if (\Drupal::moduleHandler()->moduleExists('hal')) {
-        $this->setContentType('hal_json');
-      }
-    }
-    else {
+    // Only set the requested content type if it's not 'html'. The default
+    // 'json' content will be used in this case.
+    if ($request_content_type !== 'html') {
       $this->setContentType($request_content_type);
     }
 
diff --git a/core/modules/rest/lib/Drupal/rest/Tests/Views/StyleSerializerTest.php b/core/modules/rest/lib/Drupal/rest/Tests/Views/StyleSerializerTest.php
index 4824307..8a62fe1 100644
--- a/core/modules/rest/lib/Drupal/rest/Tests/Views/StyleSerializerTest.php
+++ b/core/modules/rest/lib/Drupal/rest/Tests/Views/StyleSerializerTest.php
@@ -120,22 +120,16 @@ public function testSerializerResponses() {
 
     $actual_json = $this->drupalGet('test/serialize/entity', array(), array('Accept: application/json'));
     $this->assertResponse(200);
-
     $this->assertIdentical($actual_json, $expected, 'The expected JSON output was found.');
 
     $expected = $serializer->serialize($entities, 'hal_json');
     $actual_json = $this->drupalGet('test/serialize/entity', array(), array('Accept: application/hal+json'));
     $this->assertIdentical($actual_json, $expected, 'The expected HAL output was found.');
 
-    // Test that by default the output will be JSON if hal is enabled.
-    $expected = $serializer->serialize($entities, 'hal_json');
-    $actual = $this->drupalGet('test/serialize/entity');
-    $this->assertIdentical($actual, $expected, 'If hal module is enabled by default hal_json output is returned.');
-
-    module_disable(array('hal'));
+    // Test that the default output will be JSON if html is requested.
     $expected = $serializer->serialize($entities, 'json');
     $actual = $this->drupalGet('test/serialize/entity');
-    $this->assertIdentical($actual, $expected, 'By default json output is returned.');
+    $this->assertIdentical($actual, $expected, 'If hal module is enabled by default hal_json output is returned.');
   }
 
   /**
@@ -247,9 +241,9 @@ public function testPreview() {
       $entities[] = $row->_entity;
     }
 
-    $expected = check_plain($serializer->serialize($entities, 'hal_json'));
+    $expected = check_plain($serializer->serialize($entities, 'json'));
 
-    $view->display_handler->setContentType('hal_json');
+    $view->display_handler->setContentType('json');
     $view->live_preview = TRUE;
 
     $build = $view->preview();