diff --git a/dir.c b/dir.c
index d8381641998c09..4fceba5ec8decc 100644
--- a/dir.c
+++ b/dir.c
@@ -3053,7 +3053,9 @@ int read_directory(struct dir_struct *dir, struct index_state *istate,
 
 		if (force_untracked_cache < 0)
 			force_untracked_cache =
-				git_env_bool("GIT_FORCE_UNTRACKED_CACHE", 0);
+				git_env_bool("GIT_FORCE_UNTRACKED_CACHE", -1);
+		if (force_untracked_cache < 0)
+			force_untracked_cache = (istate->repo->settings.core_untracked_cache == UNTRACKED_CACHE_WRITE);
 		if (force_untracked_cache &&
 			dir->untracked == istate->untracked &&
 		    (dir->untracked->dir_opened ||