diff --git a/hgext/inotify/__init__.py b/hgext/inotify/__init__.py
--- a/hgext/inotify/__init__.py
+++ b/hgext/inotify/__init__.py
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ def reposetup(ui, repo):
                                    'removing it)\n'))
                     os.unlink(repo.join('inotify.sock'))
                 if err[0] in (errno.ECONNREFUSED, errno.ENOENT) and \
-                        ui.configbool('inotify', 'autostart'):
+                        ui.configbool('inotify', 'autostart', True):
                     query = None
                     ui.debug(_('(starting inotify server)\n'))
                     try:
diff --git a/tests/test-inotify-issue1208.out b/tests/test-inotify-issue1208.out
--- a/tests/test-inotify-issue1208.out
+++ b/tests/test-inotify-issue1208.out
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 % fail
-failed to contact inotify server: No such file or directory
+could not talk to new inotify server: No such file or directory
 abort: could not start server: File exists
 % inserve
 % status