diff --git a/substratevm/src/com.oracle.svm.core/src/com/oracle/svm/core/SubstrateOptions.java b/substratevm/src/com.oracle.svm.core/src/com/oracle/svm/core/SubstrateOptions.java
index 2e83faffe3d6..8125aeb9c7f7 100644
--- a/substratevm/src/com.oracle.svm.core/src/com/oracle/svm/core/SubstrateOptions.java
+++ b/substratevm/src/com.oracle.svm.core/src/com/oracle/svm/core/SubstrateOptions.java
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ protected void onValueUpdate(EconomicMap<OptionKey<?>, Object> values, Boolean o
     };
 
     @Option(help = "Enable Java Native Interface (JNI) support.")//
-    public static final HostedOptionKey<Boolean> JNI = new HostedOptionKey<>(false);
+    public static final HostedOptionKey<Boolean> JNI = new HostedOptionKey<>(true);
 
     @Option(help = "Files describing program elements to be made accessible via JNI (for syntax, see ReflectionConfigurationFiles)", type = OptionType.User)//
     public static final HostedOptionKey<String> JNIConfigurationFiles = new HostedOptionKey<>("");