diff --git a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/remote/options/RemoteOptions.java b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/remote/options/RemoteOptions.java
index ebda3d8080ded5..be8f0acea522cd 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/remote/options/RemoteOptions.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/remote/options/RemoteOptions.java
@@ -622,7 +622,7 @@ public RemoteOutputsStrategyConverter() {
 
   @Option(
       name = "incompatible_remote_downloader_send_all_headers",
-      defaultValue = "false",
+      defaultValue = "true",
       documentationCategory = OptionDocumentationCategory.REMOTE,
       effectTags = {OptionEffectTag.UNKNOWN},
       metadataTags = {OptionMetadataTag.INCOMPATIBLE_CHANGE},