diff --git a/snuba/web/delete_query.py b/snuba/web/delete_query.py
index 6171f86c04..57b3d08ae7 100644
--- a/snuba/web/delete_query.py
+++ b/snuba/web/delete_query.py
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ def _delete_from_table(
 
 
 def deletes_are_enabled() -> bool:
-    return bool(get_config("storage_deletes_enabled", 0))
+    return bool(get_config("storage_deletes_enabled", 1))
 
 
 def _get_rows_to_delete(
diff --git a/tests/test_search_issues_api.py b/tests/test_search_issues_api.py
index 9261a78d1f..f180c9638b 100644
--- a/tests/test_search_issues_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_search_issues_api.py
@@ -198,7 +198,6 @@ def test_bad_delete(self) -> None:
         assert "'query' is a required property" in res.get_json()["error"]["message"]
 
         # test for invalid column types
-        set_config("storage_deletes_enabled", 1)
         res = self.app.delete(
             "/search_issues/",
             data=json.dumps(