diff --git a/src/gravity_properties.c b/src/gravity_properties.c
index beaf25dc319f14460db2924ee18be16543a4a5f4..f0be3fd30f2903ac50f4ff3605f17f8b8ac7897a 100644
--- a/src/gravity_properties.c
+++ b/src/gravity_properties.c
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ void gravity_props_init(struct gravity_props *p, struct swift_params *params,
 
   /* Are we allowing tree use below softening? */
   p->use_tree_below_softening =
-      parser_get_opt_param_int(params, "Gravity:use_tree_below_softening", 1);
+      parser_get_opt_param_int(params, "Gravity:use_tree_below_softening", 0);
 
 #ifdef GADGET2_SOFTENING_CORRECTION
   if (p->use_tree_below_softening)