diff --git a/onionr/communicatorutils/connectnewpeers.py b/onionr/communicatorutils/connectnewpeers.py
index 1de5140f..8ce633f5 100755
--- a/onionr/communicatorutils/connectnewpeers.py
+++ b/onionr/communicatorutils/connectnewpeers.py
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ def connect_new_peer_to_communicator(comm_inst, peer='', useBootstrap=False):
     
     if len(peerList) == 0 or useBootstrap:
         # Avoid duplicating bootstrap addresses in peerList
-        bootstrappeers.add_bootstrap_list_to_peer_list(comm_inst, peerList)
+        if config.get('general.use_bootstrap_list', True):
+            bootstrappeers.add_bootstrap_list_to_peer_list(comm_inst, peerList)
 
     for address in peerList:
         if not config.get('tor.v3onions') and len(address) == 62:
diff --git a/onionr/static-data/default_config.json b/onionr/static-data/default_config.json
index 435f35c9..fb1ea790 100755
--- a/onionr/static-data/default_config.json
+++ b/onionr/static-data/default_config.json
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
         "max_block_age": 2678400,
         "public_key": "",
         "random_bind_ip": false,
-        "use_bootstrap_list": false
+        "use_bootstrap_list": true
     },
 
     "www": {