diff --git a/src/app/firedancer/config/default.toml b/src/app/firedancer/config/default.toml
index a4abc88f32..3b46a11661 100644
--- a/src/app/firedancer/config/default.toml
+++ b/src/app/firedancer/config/default.toml
@@ -1556,7 +1556,7 @@ user = ""
     # If this option is true, the validator will immediately exit with
     # an error if it detects a hard fork.  If false, the validator will
     # log the hard fork event and continue running.
-    hard_fork_fatal = true
+    hard_fork_fatal = false
 
     # It can be convenient during development to use a network namespace
     # for running Firedancer.  This allows us to send packets at a local