diff --git a/docs/setup-and-configuration.rst b/docs/setup-and-configuration.rst
index 1e996f74..1270beae 100644
--- a/docs/setup-and-configuration.rst
+++ b/docs/setup-and-configuration.rst
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ Storage settings:
 * ``max_upload_size`` (integer) - Maximum upload size in bytes. Keep in mind that this value refers to whole upload request (``Content-Length`` from request header), so the maximum file size is smaller than that by +/- 500B (because of additional payload with metadata). Default is ``None``, which means there is no limit.
 * ``storage_provider`` (disk or s3) - If you want to use S3-compatible object storage instead of local file system, set this option to ``s3``. Default is ``disk``.
 * ``hash_pathing`` (0 or 1) - Should we break up the uploads into different folders. If you use S3-compatible storage other than MinIO, recommended option is ``0`` (default: ``1``).
-* ``hash_pathing_fallback`` (0 or 1) - If set to 1, MWDB will try to reach a file contents for reading using both naming schemes (with and without hash_pathing). It's useful during migration from one scheme to another. Default is ``1``.
+* ``hash_pathing_fallback`` (0 or 1) - If set to 1, MWDB will try to reach a file contents for reading using both naming schemes (with and without hash_pathing). It's useful during migration from one scheme to another. Default is ``0``.
 * ``s3_storage_endpoint`` (string) - S3 API endpoint for object storage. Required if you use S3-compatible storage.
 * ``s3_storage_access_key`` (string) - S3 API access key for object storage. Required if you use S3-compatible storage.
 * ``s3_storage_secret_key`` (string) - S3 API secret key for object storage. Required if you use S3-compatible storage.
diff --git a/mwdb/core/config.py b/mwdb/core/config.py
index b608610b..338c88a7 100644
--- a/mwdb/core/config.py
+++ b/mwdb/core/config.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ class MWDBConfig(Config):
     # Try to open file using opposite hash_pathing setting when MWDB
     # fails to open file using current one. It's useful when you want to
     # migrate from one scheme to another.
-    hash_pathing_fallback = key(cast=intbool, required=False, default=True)
+    hash_pathing_fallback = key(cast=intbool, required=False, default=False)
     # S3 compatible storage endpoint
     s3_storage_endpoint = key(cast=str, required=False)
     # Use TLS with S3 storage