diff --git a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/packages/StarlarkSemanticsOptions.java b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/packages/StarlarkSemanticsOptions.java
index f8e6a94..88b137b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/packages/StarlarkSemanticsOptions.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/packages/StarlarkSemanticsOptions.java
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@
 
   @Option(
       name = "incompatible_bzl_disallow_load_after_statement",
-      defaultValue = "false",
+      defaultValue = "true",
       documentationCategory = OptionDocumentationCategory.STARLARK_SEMANTICS,
       effectTags = {OptionEffectTag.BUILD_FILE_SEMANTICS},
       metadataTags = {
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/syntax/StarlarkSemantics.java b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/syntax/StarlarkSemantics.java
index 7485233..54c36e1 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/syntax/StarlarkSemantics.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/syntax/StarlarkSemantics.java
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@
           .experimentalRestrictNamedParams(false)
           .experimentalStarlarkConfigTransitions(false)
           .incompatibleUseToolchainProvidersInJavaCommon(false)
-          .incompatibleBzlDisallowLoadAfterStatement(false)
+          .incompatibleBzlDisallowLoadAfterStatement(true)
           .incompatibleDepsetIsNotIterable(false)
           .incompatibleDepsetUnion(false)
           .incompatibleDisableThirdPartyLicenseChecking(false)