diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/config.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/config.sgml
index e02b0c8..0b9e300 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/config.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/config.sgml
@@ -3227,7 +3227,7 @@ ANY <replaceable class="parameter">num_sync</replaceable> ( <replaceable class="
        <para>
         Specifies whether or not you can connect and run queries during
         recovery, as described in <xref linkend="hot-standby">.
-        The default value is <literal>off</literal>.
+        The default value is <literal>on</literal>.
         This parameter can only be set at server start. It only has effect
         during archive recovery or in standby mode.
        </para>
diff --git a/src/backend/utils/misc/guc.c b/src/backend/utils/misc/guc.c
index a414fb2..587fbce 100644
--- a/src/backend/utils/misc/guc.c
+++ b/src/backend/utils/misc/guc.c
@@ -1571,7 +1571,7 @@ static struct config_bool ConfigureNamesBool[] =
 			NULL
 		},
 		&EnableHotStandby,
-		false,
+		true,
 		NULL, NULL, NULL
 	},
 
diff --git a/src/backend/utils/misc/postgresql.conf.sample b/src/backend/utils/misc/postgresql.conf.sample
index c02f7f3..fceef14 100644
--- a/src/backend/utils/misc/postgresql.conf.sample
+++ b/src/backend/utils/misc/postgresql.conf.sample
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@
 
 # These settings are ignored on a master server.
 
-#hot_standby = off			# "on" allows queries during recovery
+#hot_standby = on			# "off" disallows queries during recovery
 					# (change requires restart)
 #max_standby_archive_delay = 30s	# max delay before canceling queries
 					# when reading WAL from archive;