diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 74b5183152..e8a1a67d83 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -973,7 +973,7 @@ Sets the Apache server's base configuration directory. This is useful for specia
 
 ##### `keepalive`
 
-Determines whether to enable persistent HTTP connections with the [`KeepAlive`][] directive. Valid options: 'Off', 'On'. Default: 'Off'.
+Determines whether to enable persistent HTTP connections with the [`KeepAlive`][] directive. Valid options: 'Off', 'On'. Default: 'On'.
 
 If 'On', use the [`keepalive_timeout`][] and [`max_keepalive_requests`][] parameters to set relevant options.
 
diff --git a/manifests/params.pp b/manifests/params.pp
index 1cb2f40f5e..c72d6b927d 100644
--- a/manifests/params.pp
+++ b/manifests/params.pp
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@
       'nss'  => 'libmodnss.so',
     }
     $conf_template        = 'apache/httpd.conf.erb'
-    $keepalive            = 'Off'
+    $keepalive            = 'On'
     $keepalive_timeout    = 15
     $max_keepalive_requests = 100
     $fastcgi_lib_path     = undef
diff --git a/spec/acceptance/apache_parameters_spec.rb b/spec/acceptance/apache_parameters_spec.rb
index 923df6666c..fdf3d8561a 100644
--- a/spec/acceptance/apache_parameters_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/acceptance/apache_parameters_spec.rb
@@ -353,14 +353,14 @@ class { 'apache':
   describe 'keepalive' do
     describe 'setup' do
       it 'applies cleanly' do
-        pp = "class { 'apache': keepalive => 'On', keepalive_timeout => '30', max_keepalive_requests => '200' }"
+        pp = "class { 'apache': keepalive => 'Off', keepalive_timeout => '30', max_keepalive_requests => '200' }"
         apply_manifest(pp, :catch_failures => true)
       end
     end
 
     describe file($conf_file) do
       it { is_expected.to be_file }
-      it { is_expected.to contain 'KeepAlive On' }
+      it { is_expected.to contain 'KeepAlive Off' }
       it { is_expected.to contain 'KeepAliveTimeout 30' }
       it { is_expected.to contain 'MaxKeepAliveRequests 200' }
     end