diff --git a/src/lightning/fabric/strategies/ddp.py b/src/lightning/fabric/strategies/ddp.py
index af182ad7f422f..850a1f966edbc 100644
--- a/src/lightning/fabric/strategies/ddp.py
+++ b/src/lightning/fabric/strategies/ddp.py
@@ -124,10 +124,9 @@ def setup_environment(self) -> None:
     def setup_module(self, module: Module) -> DistributedDataParallel:
         """Wraps the model into a :class:`~torch.nn.parallel.distributed.DistributedDataParallel` module."""
         device_ids = self._determine_ddp_device_ids()
-        # https://pytorch.org/docs/stable/notes/cuda.html#id5
-        ctx = torch.cuda.stream(torch.cuda.Stream()) if device_ids is not None else nullcontext()
-        with ctx:
-            return DistributedDataParallel(module=module, device_ids=device_ids, **self._ddp_kwargs)
+        # Use default stream for DDP init to match subsequent forwards/backwards and avoid
+        # AccumulateGrad stream mismatch warning (see pytorch/pytorch#input_buffer.cpp)
+        return DistributedDataParallel(module=module, device_ids=device_ids, **self._ddp_kwargs)
 
     @override
     def module_to_device(self, module: Module) -> None:
diff --git a/src/lightning/pytorch/strategies/ddp.py b/src/lightning/pytorch/strategies/ddp.py
index 4eca6159ddced..87e3c518a5cd4 100644
--- a/src/lightning/pytorch/strategies/ddp.py
+++ b/src/lightning/pytorch/strategies/ddp.py
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 import logging
-from contextlib import nullcontext
 from datetime import timedelta
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Callable, Literal, Optional, Union
 
@@ -190,10 +189,9 @@ def _setup_model(self, model: Module) -> DistributedDataParallel:
         """Wraps the model into a :class:`~torch.nn.parallel.distributed.DistributedDataParallel` module."""
         device_ids = self.determine_ddp_device_ids()
         log.debug(f"setting up DDP model with device ids: {device_ids}, kwargs: {self._ddp_kwargs}")
-        # https://pytorch.org/docs/stable/notes/cuda.html#id5
-        ctx = torch.cuda.stream(torch.cuda.Stream()) if device_ids is not None else nullcontext()
-        with ctx:
-            return DistributedDataParallel(module=model, device_ids=device_ids, **self._ddp_kwargs)
+        # Use default stream for DDP init to match subsequent forwards/backwards and avoid
+        # AccumulateGrad stream mismatch warning (see pytorch/pytorch#input_buffer.cpp)
+        return DistributedDataParallel(module=model, device_ids=device_ids, **self._ddp_kwargs)
 
     def setup_distributed(self) -> None:
         log.debug(f"{self.__class__.__name__}: setting up distributed...")
diff --git a/tests/tests_fabric/strategies/test_ddp.py b/tests/tests_fabric/strategies/test_ddp.py
index f302da5d1bc4f..0e0658af0ba1a 100644
--- a/tests/tests_fabric/strategies/test_ddp.py
+++ b/tests/tests_fabric/strategies/test_ddp.py
@@ -145,9 +145,9 @@ def test_module_init_context(precision, expected_dtype):
 
 @mock.patch.dict(os.environ, {"LOCAL_RANK": "0"})
 @mock.patch("lightning.fabric.strategies.ddp.DistributedDataParallel")
-@mock.patch("torch.cuda.Stream")
 @mock.patch("torch.cuda.stream")
-def test_setup_with_cuda_stream(cuda_stream_mock, *_):
+def test_setup_uses_default_stream(cuda_stream_mock, *_):
+    """DDP setup uses default stream to avoid AccumulateGrad stream mismatch warning."""
     model = torch.nn.Linear(2, 2)
     strategy = DDPStrategy(parallel_devices=[torch.device("cpu")], cluster_environment=LightningEnvironment())
     strategy.setup_module(model)
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ def test_setup_with_cuda_stream(cuda_stream_mock, *_):
 
     strategy = DDPStrategy(parallel_devices=[torch.device("cuda", 0)], cluster_environment=LightningEnvironment())
     strategy.setup_module(model)
-    cuda_stream_mock.assert_called_once()
+    cuda_stream_mock.assert_not_called()
 
 
 @mock.patch("torch.distributed.init_process_group")