diff --git a/lib/react_on_rails/configuration.rb b/lib/react_on_rails/configuration.rb
index b624da46f8..82f76bb76b 100644
--- a/lib/react_on_rails/configuration.rb
+++ b/lib/react_on_rails/configuration.rb
@@ -172,8 +172,8 @@ def validate_generated_component_packs_loading_strategy
 
       msg = <<~MSG
         ReactOnRails: Your current version of shakapacker \
-        does not support async script loading,  which may cause performance issues. Please either:
-        1. Use :sync or :defer loading strategy instead of :async
+        does not support async script loading. Please either:
+        1. Use :defer or :sync loading strategy instead of :async
         2. Upgrade to Shakapacker v8.2.0 or above to enable async script loading
       MSG
       if generated_component_packs_loading_strategy.nil?
diff --git a/spec/dummy/spec/helpers/react_on_rails_helper_spec.rb b/spec/dummy/spec/helpers/react_on_rails_helper_spec.rb
index 1f3c944f74..1a691fdc38 100644
--- a/spec/dummy/spec/helpers/react_on_rails_helper_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/dummy/spec/helpers/react_on_rails_helper_spec.rb
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@ def self.pro_attribution_comment
       allow(helper).to receive(:append_stylesheet_pack_tag)
       expect { helper.load_pack_for_generated_component("component_name", render_options) }.not_to raise_error
 
+      # Default loading strategy is now always :defer to prevent race conditions
+      # between component registration and hydration, regardless of async support
       expect(helper).to have_received(:append_javascript_pack_tag).with("generated/component_name", { defer: true })
       expect(helper).to have_received(:append_stylesheet_pack_tag).with("generated/component_name")
     end