diff --git a/crates/walrus-service/src/node/config.rs b/crates/walrus-service/src/node/config.rs
index a3d07f960f..b92a464fe9 100644
--- a/crates/walrus-service/src/node/config.rs
+++ b/crates/walrus-service/src/node/config.rs
@@ -372,6 +372,10 @@ impl StorageNodeConfig {
                 max_concurrent_blob_syncs: 10,
                 ..Default::default()
             },
+            garbage_collection: GarbageCollectionConfig {
+                enable_data_deletion: false,
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
             ..Default::default()
         }
     }