diff --git a/src/config/preferences.c b/src/config/preferences.c
index e892d796..36250cd8 100644
--- a/src/config/preferences.c
+++ b/src/config/preferences.c
@@ -724,6 +724,7 @@ _get_default_string(preference_t pref)
     switch (pref)
     {
         case PREF_AUTOAWAY_MODE:
+            return "off";
         case PREF_NOTIFY_ROOM:
             return "on";
         case PREF_OTR_LOG: