diff --git a/src/core/MOM.F90 b/src/core/MOM.F90
index 47971029cc..056458c289 100644
--- a/src/core/MOM.F90
+++ b/src/core/MOM.F90
@@ -2312,7 +2312,7 @@ subroutine initialize_MOM(Time, Time_init, param_file, dirs, CS, &
   call get_param(param_file, "MOM", "USE_POROUS_BARRIER", CS%use_porbar, &
                  "If true, use porous barrier to constrain the widths "//&
                  "and face areas at the edges of the grid cells. ", &
-                 default=.true.) ! The default should be false after tests.
+                 default=.false.)
   call get_param(param_file, "MOM", "BATHYMETRY_AT_VEL", bathy_at_vel, &
                  "If true, there are separate values for the basin depths "//&
                  "at velocity points.  Otherwise the effects of topography "//&