diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/instancer.py b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/instancer.py
index d88cb38c9..4943a5463 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/instancer.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/instancer.py
@@ -1329,9 +1329,6 @@ def axisValueIsSelected(axisValue, seeker):
             axisIndex in seeker and seeker[axisIndex] <= axisValue.RangeMaxValue
         ]) else False
 
-    if axisIndex not in seeker:
-        return False
-
     return False
 
 
@@ -1395,8 +1392,15 @@ def updateNameTable(varfont, axisLimits):
     if "STAT" not in varfont:
         raise ValueError("Cannot update name table since there is no STAT table.")
     stat = varfont['STAT']
+    fvar = varfont['fvar']
     nametable = varfont["name"]
 
+    # add default axis values if they are missing from axisLimits
+    fvarDefaults = {a.axisTag: a.defaultValue for a in fvar.axes}
+    for k, v in fvarDefaults.items():
+        if k not in axisLimits:
+            axisLimits[k] = v
+
     selectedAxisValues = axisValuesFromAxisLimits(stat, axisLimits)
     _updateNameRecords(varfont, nametable, selectedAxisValues)
 
diff --git a/Tests/varLib/data/PartialInstancerTest-VF.ttx b/Tests/varLib/data/PartialInstancerTest-VF.ttx
index 92540e03e..268b5068b 100644
--- a/Tests/varLib/data/PartialInstancerTest-VF.ttx
+++ b/Tests/varLib/data/PartialInstancerTest-VF.ttx
@@ -479,6 +479,9 @@
     <namerecord nameID="296" platformID="3" platEncID="1" langID="0x409">
       TestVariableFont-XCdBd
     </namerecord>
+    <namerecord nameID="297" platformID="3" platEncID="1" langID="0x409">
+      Normal
+    </namerecord>
   </name>
 
   <post>
@@ -764,6 +767,15 @@
         <Value value="0.0"/>
         <LinkedValue value="1.0"/>
       </AxisValue>
+      <AxisValue index="3" Format="4">
+        <!-- AxisCount=1 -->
+        <Flags value="2"/>
+        <ValueNameID value="297"/>  <!-- Normal -->
+        <AxisValueRecord index="0">
+          <AxisIndex value="1"/>
+          <Value value="100.0"/>
+        </AxisValueRecord>
+      </AxisValue>
     </AxisValueArray>
     <ElidedFallbackNameID value="2"/>  <!-- Regular -->
   </STAT>
diff --git a/Tests/varLib/instancer_test.py b/Tests/varLib/instancer_test.py
index d148a8c45..a794f79d2 100644
--- a/Tests/varLib/instancer_test.py
+++ b/Tests/varLib/instancer_test.py
@@ -1209,8 +1209,8 @@ class InstantiateSTATTest(object):
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
         "location, expected",
         [
-            ({"wght": 400}, ["Regular", "Condensed", "Upright"]),
-            ({"wdth": 100}, ["Thin", "Regular", "Black", "Upright"]),
+            ({"wght": 400}, ["Regular", "Condensed", "Upright", "Normal"]),
+            ({"wdth": 100}, ["Thin", "Regular", "Black", "Upright", "Normal"]),
         ],
     )
     def test_pin_and_drop_axis(self, varfont, location, expected):
@@ -1344,7 +1344,7 @@ class InstantiateSTATTest(object):
 def test_pruningUnusedNames(varfont):
     varNameIDs = instancer.getVariationNameIDs(varfont)
 
-    assert varNameIDs == set(range(256, 296 + 1))
+    assert varNameIDs == set(range(256, 297 + 1))
 
     fvar = varfont["fvar"]
     stat = varfont["STAT"].table