diff --git a/packages/schematics/angular/application/files/tslint.json b/packages/schematics/angular/application/files/tslint.json
index d9af7070a6..68847cb2a4 100644
--- a/packages/schematics/angular/application/files/tslint.json
+++ b/packages/schematics/angular/application/files/tslint.json
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
   "rulesDirectory": [
     "node_modules/codelyzer"
   ],
+  "defaultSeverity": "warn",
   "rules": {
     "arrow-return-shorthand": true,
     "callable-types": true,