--- a/account-status-helper.cpp
+++ b/account-status-helper.cpp
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ void AccountStatusHelper::reloadConfig()
 {
     KConfigGroup kdedConfig = m_telepathyConfig->group("KDED");
 
-    m_autoConnect = kdedConfig.readEntry(QLatin1String("autoConnect"), false);
+    m_autoConnect = kdedConfig.readEntry(QLatin1String("autoConnect"), true);
 }
 
 void AccountStatusHelper::setDiskPresence(const QString &presenceGroup, const Tp::SimplePresence &presence, const QString &activity)
--- a/config/telepathy-kded-config.cpp
+++ b/config/telepathy-kded-config.cpp
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ void TelepathyKDEDConfig::load()
     ui->m_screenSaverAwayMessage->setEnabled(screenSaverAwayEnabled);
 
     // autoconnect
-    bool autoConnect = kdedConfig.readEntry(QLatin1String("autoConnect"), false);
+    bool autoConnect = kdedConfig.readEntry(QLatin1String("autoConnect"), true);
     ui->m_autoConnectCheckBox->setChecked(autoConnect);
 
     KSharedConfigPtr contactListConfig = KSharedConfig::openConfig(QLatin1String("ktpcontactlistrc"));