diff --git a/gtsfm/averaging/rotation/shonan.py b/gtsfm/averaging/rotation/shonan.py
index b0de424aa..cdccabe2f 100644
--- a/gtsfm/averaging/rotation/shonan.py
+++ b/gtsfm/averaging/rotation/shonan.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def __init__(
         self,
         two_view_rotation_sigma: float = _DEFAULT_TWO_VIEW_ROTATION_SIGMA,
         weight_by_inliers: bool = True,
-        use_mst_init: bool = False,
+        use_mst_init: bool = True,
     ) -> None:
         """Initializes module.