diff --git a/src/common/options.cc b/src/common/options.cc
index 6f8f15f370a..549efbb459e 100644
--- a/src/common/options.cc
+++ b/src/common/options.cc
@@ -4229,8 +4229,8 @@ std::vector<Option> get_global_options() {
     .set_description(""),
 
     Option("bluefs_preextend_wal_files", Option::TYPE_BOOL, Option::LEVEL_ADVANCED)
-    .set_default(false)
-    .set_description(""),
+    .set_default(true)
+    .set_description("Preextent rocksdb wal files on mkfs to avoid performance penalty for young stores"),
 
     Option("bluestore_bluefs", Option::TYPE_BOOL, Option::LEVEL_DEV)
     .set_default(true)