diff --git a/config/startup/startup.go b/config/startup/startup.go
index b87e3dc1..0bd0274e 100644
--- a/config/startup/startup.go
+++ b/config/startup/startup.go
@@ -239,6 +239,7 @@ func parseEnvVariables(params *config.VppManagerParams) (err error) {
 			return errors.Errorf("Invalid %s configuration: failed to parse '%s' as JSON: %s", CalicoVppDebugEnvVar, conf, err)
 		}
 	}
+	params.EnableGSO = true
 	if calicoVppDebug.GSOEnabled != nil {
 		params.EnableGSO = *calicoVppDebug.GSOEnabled
 	}