diff --git a/oragono.yaml b/oragono.yaml
index 0bf92a3c..eeebbdbc 100644
--- a/oragono.yaml
+++ b/oragono.yaml
@@ -306,20 +306,22 @@ accounts:
     # nick-reservation controls how, and whether, nicknames are linked to accounts
     nick-reservation:
         # is there any enforcement of reserved nicknames?
-        enabled: false
+        enabled: true
 
         # how many nicknames, in addition to the account name, can be reserved?
         additional-nick-limit: 2
 
         # method describes how nickname reservation is handled
-        #             already logged-in using SASL or NickServ
         #   timeout:  let the user change to the registered nickname, give them X seconds
         #             to login and then rename them if they haven't done so
         #   strict:   don't let the user change to the registered nickname unless they're
         #             already logged-in using SASL or NickServ
         #   optional: no enforcement by default, but allow users to opt in to
         #             the enforcement level of their choice
-        method: strict
+        #
+        # 'optional' matches the behavior of other NickServs, but 'strict' is
+        # preferable as long as all your users can enable SASL.
+        method: optional
 
         # allow users to set their own nickname enforcement status, e.g.,
         # to opt in to strict enforcement