diff --git a/nix/libstore/globals.cc b/nix/libstore/globals.cc
index d4f9a46a74..5f8a3a3031 100644
--- a/nix/libstore/globals.cc
+++ b/nix/libstore/globals.cc
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ Settings::Settings()
     reservedSize = 8 * 1024 * 1024;
     fsyncMetadata = true;
     useSQLiteWAL = true;
-    syncBeforeRegistering = false;
+    syncBeforeRegistering = true;
     useSubstitutes = true;
     useChroot = false;
     impersonateLinux26 = false;