diff --git a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonOptions.java b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonOptions.java
index 11a4cc0247bde6..ed298672827d23 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonOptions.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/rules/python/PythonOptions.java
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ public String getTypeDescription() {
 
   @Option(
       name = "incompatible_windows_escape_python_args",
-      defaultValue = "false",
+      defaultValue = "true",
       documentationCategory = OptionDocumentationCategory.OUTPUT_PARAMETERS,
       effectTags = {
         OptionEffectTag.ACTION_COMMAND_LINES,