diff --git a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/proto/ProtoConfiguration.java b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/proto/ProtoConfiguration.java
index 8eac3feb2cd846..ce1de1fd00ec76 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/proto/ProtoConfiguration.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/proto/ProtoConfiguration.java
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ public static class Options extends FragmentOptions {
 
     @Option(
         name = "incompatible_load_proto_rules_from_bzl",
-        defaultValue = "false",
+        defaultValue = "true",
         documentationCategory = OptionDocumentationCategory.UNDOCUMENTED,
         effectTags = {OptionEffectTag.LOADING_AND_ANALYSIS},
         metadataTags = {