diff --git a/cytoscape-cola.js b/cytoscape-cola.js
index 56e1d70d..c2096dfb 100644
--- a/cytoscape-cola.js
+++ b/cytoscape-cola.js
@@ -636,7 +636,7 @@ var defaults = {
   fit: true, // on every layout reposition of nodes, fit the viewport
   padding: 30, // padding around the simulation
   boundingBox: undefined, // constrain layout bounds; { x1, y1, x2, y2 } or { x1, y1, w, h }
-  nodeDimensionsIncludeLabels: undefined, // whether labels should be included in determining the space used by a node (default true)
+  nodeDimensionsIncludeLabels: false, // whether labels should be included in determining the space used by a node
 
   // layout event callbacks
   ready: function ready() {}, // on layoutready