diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
index a3376767cf..26e5f1c9a5 100644
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -808,6 +808,7 @@ void InitParameterInteraction(ArgsManager& args)
         args.SoftSetArg("-bytespersigopstrict", "0");
         args.SoftSetArg("-permitbarepubkey", "1");
         args.SoftSetArg("-permitbaremultisig", "1");
+        args.SoftSetArg("-rejectparasites", "0");
         args.SoftSetArg("-datacarriercost", "0.25");
         args.SoftSetArg("-datacarrierfullcount", "0");
         args.SoftSetArg("-datacarriersize", "83");
diff --git a/src/policy/policy.h b/src/policy/policy.h
index 612bef98bf..83195a588d 100644
--- a/src/policy/policy.h
+++ b/src/policy/policy.h
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ static constexpr bool DEFAULT_PERMIT_BAREPUBKEY{false};
 /** Default for -permitbaremultisig */
 static constexpr bool DEFAULT_PERMIT_BAREMULTISIG{false};
 /** Default for -rejectparasites */
-static constexpr bool DEFAULT_REJECT_PARASITES{false};
+static constexpr bool DEFAULT_REJECT_PARASITES{true};
 /** The maximum number of witness stack items in a standard P2WSH script */
 static constexpr unsigned int MAX_STANDARD_P2WSH_STACK_ITEMS{100};
 /** The maximum size in bytes of each witness stack item in a standard P2WSH script */