diff --git a/config/default.json b/config/default.json
index bb9644d45f..eea2e7c749 100644
--- a/config/default.json
+++ b/config/default.json
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@
         "EnableChannelViewedMessages": true,
         "EnableUserStatuses": true,
         "ClusterLogTimeoutMilliseconds": 2000,
-        "EnablePreviewFeatures": true
+        "EnablePreviewFeatures": true,
+        "CloseUnusedDirectMessages": false
     },
     "TeamSettings": {
         "SiteName": "Mattermost",