diff --git a/db/log_reader.cc b/db/log_reader.cc
index f0f1a7d9214..61649223367 100644
--- a/db/log_reader.cc
+++ b/db/log_reader.cc
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "db/log_reader.h"
 
 #include <cstdio>
+#include <iostream>
 
 #include "db/wal_manager.h"
 #include "file/sequence_file_reader.h"
@@ -209,6 +210,7 @@ bool Reader::ReadRecord(
           ReportCorruption(fragment.size(),
                            "could not decode PredecessorWALInfoType record");
         } else {
+          std::cout << "Predecessor WAL info decoded " << std::endl;
           predecessor_log_number_ = predecessor_wal_info_record.GetLogNumber();
           predecessor_size_bytes_ = predecessor_wal_info_record.GetSizeBytes();
           predecessor_last_seqno_recorded_ =
diff --git a/include/rocksdb/options.h b/include/rocksdb/options.h
index 08b9e27a6c2..24a8bdb1a2c 100644
--- a/include/rocksdb/options.h
+++ b/include/rocksdb/options.h
@@ -643,7 +643,7 @@ struct DBOptions {
   // Default: false
   bool track_and_verify_wals_in_manifest = false;
 
-  bool track_predecessor_wal = false;
+  bool track_predecessor_wal = true;
 
   // If true, verifies the SST unique id between MANIFEST and actual file
   // each time an SST file is opened. This check ensures an SST file is not