diff --git a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/analysis/AnalysisOptions.java b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/analysis/AnalysisOptions.java
index f7cc3967b0b436..b8ca3c08405d99 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/analysis/AnalysisOptions.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/analysis/AnalysisOptions.java
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ public class AnalysisOptions extends OptionsBase {
   @Option(
       name = "incompatible_strict_conflict_checks",
       oldName = "experimental_strict_conflict_checks",
-      defaultValue = "false",
+      defaultValue = "true",
       documentationCategory = OptionDocumentationCategory.UNDOCUMENTED,
       metadataTags = OptionMetadataTag.INCOMPATIBLE_CHANGE,
       effectTags = {OptionEffectTag.BAZEL_INTERNAL_CONFIGURATION},
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/remote/BuildWithoutTheBytesIntegrationTest.java b/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/remote/BuildWithoutTheBytesIntegrationTest.java
index 70e138cbc34ed3..920dd8870308f8 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/remote/BuildWithoutTheBytesIntegrationTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/remote/BuildWithoutTheBytesIntegrationTest.java
@@ -312,6 +312,8 @@ public void symlinkToDirectory() throws Exception {
 
   @Test
   public void symlinkToNestedFile() throws Exception {
+    addOptions("--noincompatible_strict_conflict_checks");
+
     write(
         "a/defs.bzl",
         "def _impl(ctx):",
@@ -364,6 +366,8 @@ public void symlinkToNestedFile() throws Exception {
 
   @Test
   public void symlinkToNestedDirectory() throws Exception {
+    addOptions("--noincompatible_strict_conflict_checks");
+
     write(
         "a/defs.bzl",
         "def _impl(ctx):",