diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/search/browser/search.contribution.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/search/browser/search.contribution.ts
index 223ce5f9541295..381e09df3328ba 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/search/browser/search.contribution.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/search/browser/search.contribution.ts
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ configurationRegistry.registerConfiguration({
 			type: 'string',
 			description: nls.localize('search.searchView.semanticSearchBehavior', "Controls the behavior of the semantic search results displayed in the search view."),
 			enum: [SemanticSearchBehavior.Manual, SemanticSearchBehavior.RunOnEmpty, SemanticSearchBehavior.Auto],
-			default: SemanticSearchBehavior.RunOnEmpty,
+			default: SemanticSearchBehavior.Manual,
 			enumDescriptions: [
 				nls.localize('search.searchView.semanticSearchBehavior.manual', "Only request semantic search results manually."),
 				nls.localize('search.searchView.semanticSearchBehavior.runOnEmpty', "Request semantic results automatically only when text search results are empty."),