diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 2c1937e5..2b5fa533 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -209,9 +209,9 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE(
 
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(
 	[strict],
-	[AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-strict], [enable strict compiler warnings (debugging option) @<:@default=no@:>@])],
+	[AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-strict], [enable strict compiler warnings (debugging option) @<:@default=yes@:>@])],
 	,
-	[enable_strict="no"]
+	[enable_strict="yes"]
 )
 
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(