diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/rc_configuration_vars.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/rc_configuration_vars.h
index 80c1d6d318..2abed02bbd 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/rc_configuration_vars.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/rc_configuration_vars.h
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, copy_demo_sessions, "copy-demo-sessions", true)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (std::string, auditioner_output_left, "auditioner-output-left", "default")
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (std::string, auditioner_output_right, "auditioner-output-right", "default")
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, replicate_missing_region_channels, "replicate-missing-region-channels", true)
-CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, hiding_groups_deactivates_groups, "hiding-groups-deactivates-groups", true)
+CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, hiding_groups_deactivates_groups, "deprecated-hiding-groups-deactivates-groups", false)  /*deprecated*/
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, group_override_inverts, "group-override-inverts", true)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, verify_remove_last_capture, "verify-remove-last-capture", true)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, save_history, "save-history", true)