diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/rc_configuration_vars.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/rc_configuration_vars.h
index 9b3d4f6809..e1814a29e1 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/rc_configuration_vars.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/rc_configuration_vars.h
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, interview_editing, "interview-editing", false)
 
 /* monitoring, mute, solo etc */
 
-CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, mute_affects_pre_fader, "mute-affects-pre-fader", false)
+CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, mute_affects_pre_fader, "mute-affects-pre-fader", true)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, mute_affects_post_fader, "mute-affects-post-fader", true)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, mute_affects_control_outs, "mute-affects-control-outs", true)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, mute_affects_main_outs, "mute-affects-main-outs", true)