diff --git a/.changeset/chilled-planes-sniff.md b/.changeset/chilled-planes-sniff.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e4084ea561
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/chilled-planes-sniff.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@backstage/plugin-api-docs': patch
+---
+
+The `registerComponent` external route will now by default bind to the catalog import page if it is available.
diff --git a/plugins/api-docs/src/routes.ts b/plugins/api-docs/src/routes.ts
index 2103672eb0..295a263d6d 100644
--- a/plugins/api-docs/src/routes.ts
+++ b/plugins/api-docs/src/routes.ts
@@ -26,4 +26,5 @@ export const rootRoute = createRouteRef({
 export const registerComponentRouteRef = createExternalRouteRef({
   id: 'register-component',
   optional: true,
+  defaultTarget: 'catalog-import.importPage',
 });