diff --git a/src/PrefsManager.cpp b/src/PrefsManager.cpp
index f2dd86bc80..afdfb5c1aa 100644
--- a/src/PrefsManager.cpp
+++ b/src/PrefsManager.cpp
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ PrefsManager::PrefsManager() :
 
 
 	m_iRegenComboAfterMiss		( "RegenComboAfterMiss",	5 ),
-	m_bMercifulDrain		( "MercifulDrain",		true ),	// negative life deltas are scaled by the players life percentage
+	m_bMercifulDrain		( "MercifulDrain",		false ),	// negative life deltas are scaled by the players life percentage
 	m_bMinimum1FullSongInCourses	( "Minimum1FullSongInCourses",	false ),	// FEoS for 1st song, FailImmediate thereafter
 	m_bFailOffInBeginner		( "FailOffInBeginner",		false ),
 	m_bFailOffForFirstStageEasy	( "FailOffForFirstStageEasy",	false ),