diff --git a/docs/sources/reference/components/otelcol.processor.probabilistic_sampler.md b/docs/sources/reference/components/otelcol.processor.probabilistic_sampler.md
index 99a2704c03..bef0583f03 100644
--- a/docs/sources/reference/components/otelcol.processor.probabilistic_sampler.md
+++ b/docs/sources/reference/components/otelcol.processor.probabilistic_sampler.md
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ Name                  | Type      | Description
 ----------------------|-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|---------
 `hash_seed`           | `uint32`  | An integer used to compute the hash algorithm.                                                                       | `0`         | no
 `sampling_percentage` | `float32` | Percentage of traces or logs sampled.                                                                                | `0`         | no
-`fail_closed`         | `bool`    | Whether to reject items with sampling-related errors.                                                                | `false`     | no
+`fail_closed`         | `bool`    | Whether to reject items with sampling-related errors.                                                                | `true`      | no
 `attribute_source`    | `string`  | Defines where to look for the attribute in `from_attribute`.                                                         | `"traceID"` | no
 `from_attribute`      | `string`  | The name of a log record attribute used for sampling purposes.                                                       | `""`        | no
 `sampling_priority`   | `string`  | The name of a log record attribute used to set a different sampling priority from the `sampling_percentage` setting. | `""`        | no
@@ -46,8 +46,6 @@ It is also possible to leverage a different `hash_seed` at different collector t
 
 `sampling_percentage` determines the percentage at which traces or logs are sampled. All traces or logs are sampled if you set this argument to a value greater than or equal to 100.
 
-`fail_closed` determines whether items with sampling-related errors will be rejected.
-
 `attribute_source` (logs only) determines where to look for the attribute in `from_attribute`. The allowed values are `traceID` or `record`.
 
 `from_attribute` (logs only) determines the name of a log record attribute used for sampling purposes, such as a unique log record ID. The value of the attribute is only used if the trace ID is absent or if `attribute_source` is set to `record`.
diff --git a/internal/component/otelcol/processor/probabilistic_sampler/probabilistic_sampler.go b/internal/component/otelcol/processor/probabilistic_sampler/probabilistic_sampler.go
index a1899001bf..59031059a0 100644
--- a/internal/component/otelcol/processor/probabilistic_sampler/probabilistic_sampler.go
+++ b/internal/component/otelcol/processor/probabilistic_sampler/probabilistic_sampler.go
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ var (
 
 // DefaultArguments holds default settings for Arguments.
 var DefaultArguments = Arguments{
+	FailClosed:      true,
 	AttributeSource: "traceID",
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/component/otelcol/processor/probabilistic_sampler/probabilistic_sampler_test.go b/internal/component/otelcol/processor/probabilistic_sampler/probabilistic_sampler_test.go
index 8370482ed2..45e9f892f4 100644
--- a/internal/component/otelcol/processor/probabilistic_sampler/probabilistic_sampler_test.go
+++ b/internal/component/otelcol/processor/probabilistic_sampler/probabilistic_sampler_test.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func TestArguments_UnmarshalAlloy(t *testing.T) {
 			expected: probabilisticsamplerprocessor.Config{
 				SamplingPercentage: 0,
 				HashSeed:           0,
-				FailClosed:         false,
+				FailClosed:         true,
 				AttributeSource:    "traceID",
 				FromAttribute:      "",
 				SamplingPriority:   "",
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ func TestArguments_UnmarshalAlloy(t *testing.T) {
 			cfg: `
 					sampling_percentage = 10
 					hash_seed = 123
-					fail_closed = true
+					fail_closed = false
 					attribute_source = "record"
 					from_attribute = "logID"
 					sampling_priority = "priority"
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func TestArguments_UnmarshalAlloy(t *testing.T) {
 			expected: probabilisticsamplerprocessor.Config{
 				SamplingPercentage: 10,
 				HashSeed:           123,
-				FailClosed:         true,
+				FailClosed:         false,
 				AttributeSource:    "record",
 				FromAttribute:      "logID",
 				SamplingPriority:   "priority",