diff --git a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/bazel/rules/BazelRuleClassProvider.java b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/bazel/rules/BazelRuleClassProvider.java
index 043c3418026155..3b5ca84ea51a8a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/bazel/rules/BazelRuleClassProvider.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/bazel/rules/BazelRuleClassProvider.java
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ public static class StrictActionEnvOptions extends FragmentOptions {
     @Option(
         name = "incompatible_strict_action_env",
         oldName = "experimental_strict_action_env",
-        defaultValue = "true",
+        defaultValue = "false",
         documentationCategory = OptionDocumentationCategory.UNCATEGORIZED,
         effectTags = {OptionEffectTag.LOADING_AND_ANALYSIS},
         metadataTags = {
diff --git a/src/test/shell/bazel/bazel_test_test.sh b/src/test/shell/bazel/bazel_test_test.sh
index db4af7c8b9c607..d2db7298874879 100755
--- a/src/test/shell/bazel/bazel_test_test.sh
+++ b/src/test/shell/bazel/bazel_test_test.sh
@@ -198,11 +198,11 @@ EOF
 
   # We don't just use the local PATH, but use the test's PATH, which is more restrictive.
   PATH=$PATH:$PWD/scripts bazel --nomaster_bazelrc test //testing:t1 -s --run_under=hello \
-    --test_output=all >& $TEST_log && fail "Expected failure"
+    --test_output=all --incompatible_strict_action_env=true >& $TEST_log && fail "Expected failure"
 
   # With --action_env=PATH, the local PATH is forwarded to the test.
   PATH=$PATH:$PWD/scripts bazel test //testing:t1 -s --run_under=hello \
-    --test_output=all --action_env=PATH >& $TEST_log || fail "Expected success"
+    --test_output=all >& $TEST_log || fail "Expected success"
   expect_log 'hello script!!! testing/t1'
 
   # We need to forward the PATH to make it work.