diff --git a/janusgraph-core/src/main/java/org/janusgraph/graphdb/transaction/StandardTransactionBuilder.java b/janusgraph-core/src/main/java/org/janusgraph/graphdb/transaction/StandardTransactionBuilder.java
index 18285ee8d5a..a9e9570e6d2 100644
--- a/janusgraph-core/src/main/java/org/janusgraph/graphdb/transaction/StandardTransactionBuilder.java
+++ b/janusgraph-core/src/main/java/org/janusgraph/graphdb/transaction/StandardTransactionBuilder.java
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ public class StandardTransactionBuilder implements TransactionConfiguration, Tra
 
     private boolean skipDBCacheRead;
 
-    private boolean isLazyLoadRelations;
+    private boolean isLazyLoadRelations = true;
 
     private MultiQueryHasStepStrategyMode hasStepStrategyMode;