diff --git a/llvmlite/__init__.py b/llvmlite/__init__.py
index f830f73f9..f91ce1fde 100644
--- a/llvmlite/__init__.py
+++ b/llvmlite/__init__.py
@@ -5,6 +5,6 @@
 # FIXME: Remove me once typed pointers are no longer supported.
 def _opaque_pointers_enabled():
   import os
-  return os.environ.get('LLVMLITE_ENABLE_OPAQUE_POINTERS', '0') == '1'
+  return os.environ.get('LLVMLITE_ENABLE_OPAQUE_POINTERS', '1') == '1'
 opaque_pointers_enabled = _opaque_pointers_enabled()
 del _opaque_pointers_enabled