diff --git a/rhodecode/controllers/admin/repos.py b/rhodecode/controllers/admin/repos.py
--- a/rhodecode/controllers/admin/repos.py
+++ b/rhodecode/controllers/admin/repos.py
@@ -781,7 +781,7 @@ class ReposController(BaseRepoController
         defaults = self._vcs_form_defaults(repo_name)
         c.inherit_global_settings = defaults['inherit_global_settings']
         c.labs_active = str2bool(
-            rhodecode.CONFIG.get('labs_settings_active', 'false'))
+            rhodecode.CONFIG.get('labs_settings_active', 'true'))
 
         return htmlfill.render(
             render('admin/repos/repo_edit.html'),
diff --git a/rhodecode/controllers/admin/settings.py b/rhodecode/controllers/admin/settings.py
--- a/rhodecode/controllers/admin/settings.py
+++ b/rhodecode/controllers/admin/settings.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class SettingsController(BaseController)
     def __before__(self):
         super(SettingsController, self).__before__()
         c.labs_active = str2bool(
-            rhodecode.CONFIG.get('labs_settings_active', 'false'))
+            rhodecode.CONFIG.get('labs_settings_active', 'true'))
         c.navlist = navigation_list(request)
 
     def _get_hg_ui_settings(self):