diff --git a/sonar-core/src/main/java/org/sonar/core/config/ScannerProperties.java b/sonar-core/src/main/java/org/sonar/core/config/ScannerProperties.java
index 5c21ced1d0b5..f919a44db58b 100644
--- a/sonar-core/src/main/java/org/sonar/core/config/ScannerProperties.java
+++ b/sonar-core/src/main/java/org/sonar/core/config/ScannerProperties.java
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ public static List<PropertyDefinition> all() {
         .category(CoreProperties.CATEGORY_GENERAL)
         .subCategory("Performance")
         .type(BOOLEAN)
-        .defaultValue("false")
+        .defaultValue("true")
         .build());
   }
 }
diff --git a/sonar-scanner-engine/src/main/java/org/sonar/scanner/bootstrap/ScannerPluginRepository.java b/sonar-scanner-engine/src/main/java/org/sonar/scanner/bootstrap/ScannerPluginRepository.java
index 629c460e2522..fb2834604f65 100644
--- a/sonar-scanner-engine/src/main/java/org/sonar/scanner/bootstrap/ScannerPluginRepository.java
+++ b/sonar-scanner-engine/src/main/java/org/sonar/scanner/bootstrap/ScannerPluginRepository.java
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ public ScannerPluginRepository(PluginInstaller installer, PluginJarExploder plug
 
   @Override
   public void start() {
-    shouldLoadOnlyRequiredPluginsOnStart = properties.getBoolean(PLUGIN_LOADING_OPTIMIZATION_KEY).orElse(false);
+    shouldLoadOnlyRequiredPluginsOnStart = properties.getBoolean(PLUGIN_LOADING_OPTIMIZATION_KEY).orElse(true);
     if (!shouldLoadOnlyRequiredPluginsOnStart) {
       LOG.warn("{} is false, so ALL available plugins will be downloaded", PLUGIN_LOADING_OPTIMIZATION_KEY);
       pluginsByKeys = new HashMap<>(installer.installAllPlugins());