diff --git a/autoconf/configure.ac b/autoconf/configure.ac
index bce92142..83be0027 100644
--- a/autoconf/configure.ac
+++ b/autoconf/configure.ac
@@ -215,12 +215,12 @@ AC_DEFUN([AX_JAVA],[
      ],[])
 ])
 
-dnl test if we want to use er7_utils, default to no
+dnl test if we want to use er7_utils, default to yes
 AC_DEFUN([AX_ER7_UTILS],[
     AC_ARG_ENABLE([er7utils],
-                  AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-er7utils], [use er7_utils (default is no)]),
+                  AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-er7utils], [use er7_utils (default is yes)]),
                   AS_IF([test "x$enable_er7utils" = xyes], [USE_ER7_UTILS="1"], [USE_ER7_UTILS="0"]),
-                  [USE_ER7_UTILS="0"]
+                  [USE_ER7_UTILS="1"]
                  )
     AC_SUBST([USE_ER7_UTILS])
 ])
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 09ba7fcc..e0d8912e 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -1432,7 +1432,7 @@ Optional Features:
                           trick-offline directory in TRICK_HOME to use this
                           feature
   --enable-java           use java (default is yes)
-  --enable-er7utils       use er7_utils (default is no)
+  --enable-er7utils       use er7_utils (default is yes)
 
 Optional Packages:
   --with-PACKAGE[=ARG]    use PACKAGE [ARG=yes]
@@ -10252,7 +10252,7 @@ else $as_nop
   USE_ER7_UTILS="0"
 fi
 else $as_nop
-  USE_ER7_UTILS="0"
+  USE_ER7_UTILS="1"
 
 fi