diff --git a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/java/JavaOptions.java b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/java/JavaOptions.java
index 53420f5ad18524..7d1d28590db9d9 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/java/JavaOptions.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/java/JavaOptions.java
@@ -643,7 +643,7 @@ public ImportDepsCheckingLevelConverter() {
 
   @Option(
       name = "incompatible_windows_escape_jvm_flags",
-      defaultValue = "false",
+      defaultValue = "true",
       documentationCategory = OptionDocumentationCategory.OUTPUT_PARAMETERS,
       effectTags = {
         OptionEffectTag.ACTION_COMMAND_LINES,