diff --git a/pkg/kv/kvserver/kvflowcontrol/kvflowcontrol.go b/pkg/kv/kvserver/kvflowcontrol/kvflowcontrol.go
index 875636b47546..7e8c5d9fdb32 100644
--- a/pkg/kv/kvserver/kvflowcontrol/kvflowcontrol.go
+++ b/pkg/kv/kvserver/kvflowcontrol/kvflowcontrol.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ var Enabled = settings.RegisterBoolSetting(
 	settings.SystemOnly,
 	"kvadmission.flow_control.enabled",
 	"determines whether we use flow control for replication traffic in KV",
-	false,
+	true,
 )
 
 // Mode determines the 'mode' of flow control we use for replication traffic in