diff --git a/modules/setting/repository.go b/modules/setting/repository.go
index d13f25f554..93c01cb8fa 100644
--- a/modules/setting/repository.go
+++ b/modules/setting/repository.go
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ func loadRepositoryFrom(rootCfg ConfigProvider) {
 	// Determine and create root git repository path.
 	sec := rootCfg.Section("repository")
 	Repository.DisableHTTPGit = sec.Key("DISABLE_HTTP_GIT").MustBool()
-	Repository.UseCompatSSHURI = sec.Key("USE_COMPAT_SSH_URI").MustBool()
+	Repository.UseCompatSSHURI = sec.Key("USE_COMPAT_SSH_URI").MustBool(true)
 	Repository.GoGetCloneURLProtocol = sec.Key("GO_GET_CLONE_URL_PROTOCOL").MustString("https")
 	Repository.MaxCreationLimit = sec.Key("MAX_CREATION_LIMIT").MustInt(-1)
 	Repository.DefaultBranch = sec.Key("DEFAULT_BRANCH").MustString(Repository.DefaultBranch)