diff --git a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonOptions.java b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonOptions.java
index 8c7055ed29b722..e2c5ef4fb2b8bb 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonOptions.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonOptions.java
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ public String getTypeDescription() {
 
   @Option(
       name = "incompatible_remove_old_python_version_api",
-      defaultValue = "false",
+      defaultValue = "true",
       documentationCategory = OptionDocumentationCategory.STARLARK_SEMANTICS,
       effectTags = {OptionEffectTag.LOADING_AND_ANALYSIS},
       metadataTags = {