diff --git a/cmd/micro/settings.go b/cmd/micro/settings.go
index cdeed091..6070e049 100644
--- a/cmd/micro/settings.go
+++ b/cmd/micro/settings.go
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ func DefaultGlobalSettings() map[string]interface{} {
 	return map[string]interface{}{
 		"autoindent":   true,
 		"colorscheme":  "zenburn",
-		"cursorline":   false,
+		"cursorline":   true,
 		"ignorecase":   false,
 		"indentchar":   " ",
 		"ruler":        true,
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ func DefaultGlobalSettings() map[string]interface{} {
 func DefaultLocalSettings() map[string]interface{} {
 	return map[string]interface{}{
 		"autoindent":   true,
-		"cursorline":   false,
+		"cursorline":   true,
 		"filetype":     "Unknown",
 		"ignorecase":   false,
 		"indentchar":   " ",
diff --git a/runtime/help/options.md b/runtime/help/options.md
index 14396703..de3d5e96 100644
--- a/runtime/help/options.md
+++ b/runtime/help/options.md
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ Here are the options that you can set:
 * `cursorline`: highlight the line that the cursor is on in a different color
    (the color is defined by the colorscheme you are using)
 
-	default value: `off`
+	default value: `on`
 
 * `ruler`: display line numbers