diff --git a/roboteam_ai/include/roboteam_ai/utilities/RuntimeConfig.h b/roboteam_ai/include/roboteam_ai/utilities/RuntimeConfig.h
index 1de3097ab..d637ccaf9 100644
--- a/roboteam_ai/include/roboteam_ai/utilities/RuntimeConfig.h
+++ b/roboteam_ai/include/roboteam_ai/utilities/RuntimeConfig.h
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ namespace rtt::ai {
  */
 class RuntimeConfig {
    public:
-    static inline std::atomic<bool> useReferee;
+    static inline std::atomic<bool> useReferee = true;
     static inline std::atomic<bool> ignoreInvariants;
     static inline std::atomic<bool> isPaused;
 };