diff --git a/services/web/config/settings.defaults.coffee b/services/web/config/settings.defaults.coffee
index fb9257cdef..f345d14129 100644
--- a/services/web/config/settings.defaults.coffee
+++ b/services/web/config/settings.defaults.coffee
@@ -266,8 +266,7 @@ module.exports = settings =
 	
 	# Should we allow access to any page without logging in? This includes
 	# public projects, /learn, /templates, about pages, etc.
-	# allowPublicAccess: if process.env["SHARELATEX_ALLOW_PUBLIC_ACCESS"] == 'true' then true else false
-	allowPublicAccess: true
+	allowPublicAccess: if process.env["SHARELATEX_ALLOW_PUBLIC_ACCESS"] == 'true' then true else false
 
 	# Use a single compile directory for all users in a project
 	# (otherwise each user has their own directory)