diff --git a/enterprise/backend/enterprise_core/settings.py b/enterprise/backend/enterprise_core/settings.py
index 60b96034f..8472928d8 100644
--- a/enterprise/backend/enterprise_core/settings.py
+++ b/enterprise/backend/enterprise_core/settings.py
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ def set_ciso_assistant_url(_, __, event_dict):
     "Enterprise startup info", feature_flags=FEATURE_FLAGS, module_paths=MODULE_PATHS
 )
 
-LICENSE_SEATS = int(os.environ.get("LICENSE_SEATS", 0))
+LICENSE_SEATS = int(os.environ.get("LICENSE_SEATS", 1))
 LICENSE_EXPIRATION = os.environ.get("LICENSE_EXPIRATION", "unset")
 
 INSTALLED_APPS.append("enterprise_core")