diff --git a/sys/amd64/amd64/pmap.c b/sys/amd64/amd64/pmap.c
index f2705ba7531d..67a485fe94aa 100644
--- a/sys/amd64/amd64/pmap.c
+++ b/sys/amd64/amd64/pmap.c
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ pt_entry_t pg_nx;
 
 SYSCTL_NODE(_vm, OID_AUTO, pmap, CTLFLAG_RD, 0, "VM/pmap parameters");
 
-static int pg_ps_enabled;
+static int pg_ps_enabled = 1;
 SYSCTL_INT(_vm_pmap, OID_AUTO, pg_ps_enabled, CTLFLAG_RD, &pg_ps_enabled, 0,
     "Are large page mappings enabled?");