diff --git a/vllm/platforms/cuda.py b/vllm/platforms/cuda.py
index 48d1aacba185..8262495e7697 100644
--- a/vllm/platforms/cuda.py
+++ b/vllm/platforms/cuda.py
@@ -226,15 +226,21 @@ def get_attn_backend_cls(cls, selected_backend, head_size, dtype,
             if selected_backend == _Backend.FLASHINFER:
                 logger.info_once("Using FlashInfer backend on V1 engine.")
                 return "vllm.v1.attention.backends.flashinfer.FlashInferBackend"
-            if selected_backend == _Backend.FLEX_ATTENTION:
+            elif selected_backend == _Backend.FLEX_ATTENTION:
                 logger.info("Using FlexAttenion backend on V1 engine.")
                 return "vllm.v1.attention.backends.flex_attention.FlexAttentionBackend"  # noqa: E501
-            if selected_backend == _Backend.TRITON_ATTN_VLLM_V1:
+            elif selected_backend == _Backend.TRITON_ATTN_VLLM_V1:
                 logger.info_once("Using Triton backend on V1 engine.")
                 return ("vllm.v1.attention.backends."
                         "triton_attn.TritonAttentionBackend")
+            elif selected_backend == _Backend.FLASH_ATTN:
+                logger.info_once("Using Flash Attention backend on V1 engine.")
+                return ("vllm.v1.attention.backends."
+                        "flash_attn.FlashAttentionBackend")
+
+            # Default backends for V1 engine
+            # Prefer FlashInfer for Blackwell GPUs if installed
             if cls.is_device_capability(100):
-                # Prefer FlashInfer for V1 on Blackwell GPUs if installed
                 try:
                     import flashinfer  # noqa: F401
                     logger.info_once(
@@ -248,10 +254,13 @@ def get_attn_backend_cls(cls, selected_backend, head_size, dtype,
                         "Blackwell (SM 10.0) GPUs; it is recommended to "
                         "install FlashInfer for better performance.")
                     pass
-            if cls.has_device_capability(80):
+            # FlashAttention is the default for SM 8.0+ GPUs
+            elif cls.has_device_capability(80):
                 logger.info_once("Using Flash Attention backend on V1 engine.")
                 return ("vllm.v1.attention.backends."
                         "flash_attn.FlashAttentionBackend")
+
+        # Backends for V0 engine
         if selected_backend == _Backend.FLASHINFER:
             logger.info("Using FlashInfer backend.")
             return "vllm.attention.backends.flashinfer.FlashInferBackend"