diff --git a/docker/docker.go b/docker/docker.go
index a0021f3a87..750d63c06b 100644
--- a/docker/docker.go
+++ b/docker/docker.go
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ func main() {
 	flVersion := flag.Bool("v", false, "Print version information and quit")
 	flDaemon := flag.Bool("d", false, "Daemon mode")
 	flDebug := flag.Bool("D", false, "Debug mode")
-	flAutoRestart := flag.Bool("r", false, "Restart previously running containers")
+	flAutoRestart := flag.Bool("r", true, "Restart previously running containers")
 	bridgeName := flag.String("b", "", "Attach containers to a pre-existing network bridge. Use 'none' to disable container networking")
 	pidfile := flag.String("p", "/var/run/docker.pid", "File containing process PID")
 	flGraphPath := flag.String("g", "/var/lib/docker", "Path to graph storage base dir.")