diff --git a/src/tribler/core/libtorrent/download_manager/download_config.py b/src/tribler/core/libtorrent/download_manager/download_config.py
index 03050822fb..aff2e089f5 100644
--- a/src/tribler/core/libtorrent/download_manager/download_config.py
+++ b/src/tribler/core/libtorrent/download_manager/download_config.py
@@ -133,7 +133,10 @@ def from_defaults(settings: TriblerConfigManager) -> DownloadConfig:
         defaults.validate(Validator())
         config = DownloadConfig(defaults)
 
-        config.set_hops(int(settings.get("libtorrent/download_defaults/number_hops")))
+        if settings.get("libtorrent/download_defaults/anonymity_enabled"):
+            config.set_hops(int(settings.get("libtorrent/download_defaults/number_hops")))
+        else:
+            config.set_hops(0)
         config.set_safe_seeding(settings.get("libtorrent/download_defaults/safeseeding_enabled"))
         config.set_dest_dir(settings.get("libtorrent/download_defaults/saveas"))
 
diff --git a/src/tribler/core/libtorrent/restapi/downloads_endpoint.py b/src/tribler/core/libtorrent/restapi/downloads_endpoint.py
index 8f7c10b185..56841c8d80 100644
--- a/src/tribler/core/libtorrent/restapi/downloads_endpoint.py
+++ b/src/tribler/core/libtorrent/restapi/downloads_endpoint.py
@@ -101,14 +101,14 @@ def create_dconfig_from_params(self, parameters: dict) -> tuple[DownloadConfig,
         """
         download_config = DownloadConfig.from_defaults(self.download_manager.config)
 
-        anon_hops = parameters.get('anon_hops', 0)
+        anon_hops = parameters.get('anon_hops')
         safe_seeding = bool(parameters.get('safe_seeding', 0))
 
-        if anon_hops > 0 and not safe_seeding:
-            return None, "Cannot set anonymous download without safe seeding enabled"
-
-        if anon_hops >= 0:
-            download_config.set_hops(anon_hops)
+        if anon_hops is not None:
+            if anon_hops > 0 and not safe_seeding:
+                return None, "Cannot set anonymous download without safe seeding enabled"
+            if anon_hops >= 0:
+                download_config.set_hops(anon_hops)
 
         if safe_seeding:
             download_config.set_safe_seeding(True)