diff --git a/src/systemc/SConsopts b/src/systemc/SConsopts
index f3da63dc8d..fc0abb2ad6 100644
--- a/src/systemc/SConsopts
+++ b/src/systemc/SConsopts
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 Import('*')
 
 sticky_vars.AddVariables(
-    BoolVariable('USE_SYSTEMC', 'Enable SystemC API support', False)
+    BoolVariable('USE_SYSTEMC', 'Enable SystemC API support', True)
     )
 
 export_vars.append('USE_SYSTEMC')