diff --git a/target/riscv/cpu.c b/target/riscv/cpu.c
index 85656cdcc3..0c774056c5 100644
--- a/target/riscv/cpu.c
+++ b/target/riscv/cpu.c
@@ -803,7 +803,7 @@ static Property riscv_cpu_properties[] = {
     DEFINE_PROP_BOOL("Zve64f", RISCVCPU, cfg.ext_zve64f, false),
     DEFINE_PROP_BOOL("mmu", RISCVCPU, cfg.mmu, true),
     DEFINE_PROP_BOOL("pmp", RISCVCPU, cfg.pmp, true),
-    DEFINE_PROP_BOOL("debug", RISCVCPU, cfg.debug, false),
+    DEFINE_PROP_BOOL("debug", RISCVCPU, cfg.debug, true),
 
     DEFINE_PROP_STRING("priv_spec", RISCVCPU, cfg.priv_spec),
     DEFINE_PROP_STRING("vext_spec", RISCVCPU, cfg.vext_spec),