diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index ff597346b..4b90287eb 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ GNOME_DOC_INIT([0.8.0])
 # minimum/yes/maximum are the same, however.
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(compile_warnings,
   AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-compile-warnings=@<:@no/minimum/yes/maximum/error@:>@],[Turn on compiler warnings]),,
-  enable_compile_warnings=maximum)
+  enable_compile_warnings=error)
 
 changequote(,)dnl
 if test "$enable_compile_warnings" != no ; then