diff --git a/lib/Kconfig.debug b/lib/Kconfig.debug
index f75a33f29f6e..7d0b49c536c5 100644
--- a/lib/Kconfig.debug
+++ b/lib/Kconfig.debug
@@ -1919,7 +1919,6 @@ config STRICT_DEVMEM
 config IO_STRICT_DEVMEM
 	bool "Filter I/O access to /dev/mem"
 	depends on STRICT_DEVMEM
-	default STRICT_DEVMEM
 	---help---
 	  If this option is disabled, you allow userspace (root) access to all
 	  io-memory regardless of whether a driver is actively using that