diff --git a/anton/core/settings.py b/anton/core/settings.py
index 5057f8b9..dea7a3ab 100644
--- a/anton/core/settings.py
+++ b/anton/core/settings.py
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ class CoreSettings(BaseSettings):
     # turn first hits the router model, which either answers trivial/from-
     # context requests directly or delegates to the planning model (optionally
     # preloading skills). The mechanism is the "thalamus" (see
-    # anton/core/llm/thalamus.py); the user-facing knobs stay "router". Off by
-    # default until evaluated; flip with ANTON_ROUTER_ENABLED=true.
-    router_enabled: bool = False
+    # anton/core/llm/thalamus.py); the user-facing knobs stay "router". On by
+    # default; disable with ANTON_ROUTER_ENABLED=false.
+    router_enabled: bool = True
     # Output budget for the gating call. Deliberately small: a direct
     # answer that doesn't fit here is evidence the turn wasn't trivial,
     # and the router treats truncation as "delegate".