diff --git a/dat/opthelp b/dat/opthelp
index 35337d104..d865c468c 100644
--- a/dat/opthelp
+++ b/dat/opthelp
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ cmdassist      give help for errors on direction & other commands  [True]
 color          use different colors for objects on screen  [True for micros]
 confirm        ask before hitting tame or peaceful monsters        [True]
 dark_room      show floor not in sight in different color          [True]
-dropped_nopick exclude dropped objects from autopickup            [False]
+dropped_nopick exclude dropped objects from autopickup             [True]
 eight_bit_tty  send 8-bit characters straight to terminal         [False]
 extmenu        tty, curses: use menu for # (extended commands)    [False]
                X11: menu has all commands (T) or traditional subset (F)
diff --git a/doc/Guidebook.mn b/doc/Guidebook.mn
index e634e6232..f7d7c5f68 100644
--- a/doc/Guidebook.mn
+++ b/doc/Guidebook.mn
@@ -3874,7 +3874,7 @@ picked up, even if
 .op autopickup
 is also on and they are in
 .op pickup_types
-or match a positive autopickup exception (defualt off).  Persistent.
+or match a positive autopickup exception (defualt on).  Persistent.
 .lp disclose
 Controls what information the program reveals when the game ends.
 Value is a space separated list of prompting/category pairs
diff --git a/doc/Guidebook.tex b/doc/Guidebook.tex
index 57fee5760..23ebe3a5e 100644
--- a/doc/Guidebook.tex
+++ b/doc/Guidebook.tex
@@ -4228,7 +4228,7 @@ Start the character permanently deaf (default false).  Persistent.
 If this option is on, items you dropped will not be automatically picked up,
 even if ``{\it autopickup\/}'' is also on and they are in
 ``{\it pickup\verb+_+types\/}'' or match a positive autopickup exception
-(default off).  Persistent.
+(default on).  Persistent.
 %.lp
 \item[\ib{disclose}]
 Controls what information the program reveals when the game ends.
diff --git a/include/optlist.h b/include/optlist.h
index 689810349..ae866b5e1 100644
--- a/include/optlist.h
+++ b/include/optlist.h
@@ -261,8 +261,8 @@ static int optfn_##a(int, int, boolean, char *, char *);
     NHOPTC(dogname, Advanced, PL_PSIZ, opt_in, set_gameview,
                 No, Yes, No, No, NoAlias,
                 "name of your starting pet if it is a little dog")
-    NHOPTB(dropped_nopick, Behavior, 0, opt_in, set_in_game,
-           Off, Yes, No, No, NoAlias, &flags.nopick_dropped, Term_False,
+    NHOPTB(dropped_nopick, Behavior, 0, opt_out, set_in_game,
+           On, Yes, No, No, NoAlias, &flags.nopick_dropped, Term_False,
            "don't autopickup dropped items")
     NHOPTC(dungeon, Advanced, MAXDCHARS + 1,opt_in, set_in_config,
                 No, Yes, No, No, NoAlias,