diff --git a/builtin/settingtypes.txt b/builtin/settingtypes.txt
index 5302205f1..986decbd7 100644
--- a/builtin/settingtypes.txt
+++ b/builtin/settingtypes.txt
@@ -1042,7 +1042,7 @@ serverlist_url (Serverlist URL) string servers.multicraft.world
 
 #    Remove color codes from incoming chat messages
 #    Use this to stop players from being able to use color in their messages
-strip_color_codes (Strip color codes) bool false
+strip_color_codes (Strip color codes) bool true
 
 [*Network]
 
diff --git a/multicraft.conf.example b/multicraft.conf.example
index 87a631ca0..1bf2c6c06 100644
--- a/multicraft.conf.example
+++ b/multicraft.conf.example
@@ -1228,7 +1228,7 @@
 #    Remove color codes from incoming chat messages
 #    Use this to stop players from being able to use color in their messages
 #    type: bool
-# strip_color_codes = false
+# strip_color_codes = true
 
 ## Network
 
diff --git a/src/defaultsettings.cpp b/src/defaultsettings.cpp
index 2bba96fb8..abe8bfa73 100644
--- a/src/defaultsettings.cpp
+++ b/src/defaultsettings.cpp
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ void set_default_settings()
 	settings->setDefault("compat_send_original_model", "true");
 	settings->setDefault("disable_texture_packs", "false");
 	settings->setDefault("disable_escape_sequences", "false");
-	settings->setDefault("strip_color_codes", "false");
+	settings->setDefault("strip_color_codes", "true");
 	settings->setDefault("announce_mt", "true");
 #if USE_PROMETHEUS
 	settings->setDefault("prometheus_listener_address", "127.0.0.1:30000");