diff --git a/configure.ac.in b/configure.ac.in
index 18b779fb..69209120 100644
--- a/configure.ac.in
+++ b/configure.ac.in
@@ -328,8 +328,8 @@ dnl Lua
 dnl
 
 AC_ARG_ENABLE([lua],
-	      AC_HELP_STRING([--enable-lua], [enable if you want Lua scripting support @<:@default=no@:>@]),
-	      [want_lua="$enableval"], [want_lua=no])
+	      AC_HELP_STRING([--enable-lua], [enable if you want Lua scripting support @<:@default=yes@:>@]),
+	      [want_lua="$enableval"], [want_lua=yes])
 #
 AM_CONDITIONAL(BUILD_LUA, test x$want_lua = xyes)
 if test x$want_lua = xyes; then