diff --git a/irc/config.go b/irc/config.go
index e515114c..e3680ad1 100644
--- a/irc/config.go
+++ b/irc/config.go
@@ -686,6 +686,12 @@ func LoadConfig(filename string) (config *Config, err error) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// RecoverFromErrors defaults to true
+	if config.Debug.RecoverFromErrors == nil {
+		config.Debug.RecoverFromErrors = new(bool)
+		*config.Debug.RecoverFromErrors = true
+	}
+
 	// casefold/validate server name
 	config.Server.nameCasefolded, err = Casefold(config.Server.Name)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/irc/getters.go b/irc/getters.go
index 7ea5f19a..6df089d5 100644
--- a/irc/getters.go
+++ b/irc/getters.go
@@ -29,9 +29,7 @@ func (server *Server) Password() []byte {
 }
 
 func (server *Server) RecoverFromErrors() bool {
-	// default to true if unset
-	rfe := server.Config().Debug.RecoverFromErrors
-	return rfe == nil || *rfe
+	return *server.Config().Debug.RecoverFromErrors
 }
 
 func (server *Server) ProxyAllowedFrom() []string {