diff --git a/public/scripts/power-user.js b/public/scripts/power-user.js
index fd9bac986..7056638c9 100644
--- a/public/scripts/power-user.js
+++ b/public/scripts/power-user.js
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ function switchMesIDDisplay() {
 
 function switchHideChatAvatars() {
     const value = localStorage.getItem(storage_keys.hideChatAvatars_enabled);
-    power_user.hideChatAvatars_enabled = value === null ? true : value == 'true';
+    power_user.hideChatAvatars_enabled = value === null ? false : value == 'true';
     /*console.log(`
         localstorage value:${value},
         poweruser after:${power_user.hideChatAvatars_enabled}`)