diff --git a/hgext/rebase.py b/hgext/rebase.py
--- a/hgext/rebase.py
+++ b/hgext/rebase.py
@@ -297,7 +297,8 @@ def rebase(ui, repo, **opts):
                     hint=_('use --keep to keep original changesets'))
 
             obsoletenotrebased = {}
-            if ui.configbool('experimental', 'rebaseskipobsolete'):
+            if ui.configbool('experimental', 'rebaseskipobsolete',
+                             default=True):
                 rebasesetrevs = set(rebaseset)
                 rebaseobsrevs = _filterobsoleterevs(repo, rebasesetrevs)
                 obsoletenotrebased = _computeobsoletenotrebased(repo,
diff --git a/tests/test-rebase-obsolete.t b/tests/test-rebase-obsolete.t
--- a/tests/test-rebase-obsolete.t
+++ b/tests/test-rebase-obsolete.t
@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ Test hidden changesets in the rebase set
   $ hg commit -m J
   $ hg debugobsolete `hg log --rev . -T '{node}'`
 
-  $ hg rebase --rev .~1::. --dest 'max(desc(D))' --traceback
+  $ hg rebase --rev .~1::. --dest 'max(desc(D))' --traceback --config experimental.rebaseskipobsolete=off
   rebasing 9:4bde274eefcf "I"
   rebasing 13:06edfc82198f "J" (tip)
   $ hg log -G