diff --git a/matrix/push.cc b/matrix/push.cc
index 3bec296c9..e28613804 100644
--- a/matrix/push.cc
+++ b/matrix/push.cc
@@ -1145,7 +1145,7 @@ ircd::m::push::rules::defaults{R"(
 		{
 			"rule_id": ".m.rule.message",
 			"default": true,
-			"enabled": false,
+			"enabled": true,
 			"conditions":
 			[
 				{
diff --git a/modules/m_push.cc b/modules/m_push.cc
index 56837a515..65622ffff 100644
--- a/modules/m_push.cc
+++ b/modules/m_push.cc
@@ -196,6 +196,7 @@ ircd::m::push::execute(const event &event,
                        const event::idx &rule_idx)
 try
 {
+	assert(json::get<"enabled"_>(rule));
 	const auto &[scope, kind, ruleid]
 	{
 		path