diff --git a/openbsc/src/libbsc/pcu_sock.c b/openbsc/src/libbsc/pcu_sock.c
index 218640981..0e904db18 100644
--- a/openbsc/src/libbsc/pcu_sock.c
+++ b/openbsc/src/libbsc/pcu_sock.c
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
 
 static int pcu_sock_send(struct gsm_bts *bts, struct msgb *msg);
 uint32_t trx_get_hlayer1(struct gsm_bts_trx *trx);
-int pcu_direct = 0;
+int pcu_direct = 1;
 
 static const char *sapi_string[] = {
 	[PCU_IF_SAPI_RACH] =	"RACH",