diff --git a/tailbone/subscribers.py b/tailbone/subscribers.py
index de1177d6..ff4527e7 100644
--- a/tailbone/subscribers.py
+++ b/tailbone/subscribers.py
@@ -117,7 +117,8 @@ def before_render(event):
         # heck while we're assuming the classic web app here...
         # (we don't want this to happen for the API either!)
         # TODO: just..awful *shrug*
-        if request.rattail_config.getbool('tailbone', 'menus.simple', default=False):
+        # note that we assume "simple" menus nowadays
+        if request.rattail_config.getbool('tailbone', 'menus.simple', default=True):
             renderer_globals['menus'] = make_simple_menus(request)
 
         # TODO: ugh, same deal here