diff --git a/src/platform/nodeReplacement/nodeReplacementStore.test.ts b/src/platform/nodeReplacement/nodeReplacementStore.test.ts
index 552ee41da8..3ade67622c 100644
--- a/src/platform/nodeReplacement/nodeReplacementStore.test.ts
+++ b/src/platform/nodeReplacement/nodeReplacementStore.test.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ function mockSettingStore(enabled: boolean) {
         return enabled
       }
       return false
-    })
+    }),
+    load: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined)
   })
 }
 
@@ -227,6 +228,16 @@ describe('useNodeReplacementStore', () => {
       consoleErrorSpy.mockRestore()
     })
 
+    it('should not fetch when feature is disabled', async () => {
+      vi.mocked(fetchNodeReplacements).mockResolvedValue({})
+      store = createStore(false)
+
+      await store.load()
+
+      expect(fetchNodeReplacements).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+      expect(store.isLoaded).toBe(false)
+    })
+
     it('should not re-fetch when called twice', async () => {
       vi.mocked(fetchNodeReplacements).mockResolvedValue(mockReplacements)
       store = createStore()
diff --git a/src/platform/nodeReplacement/nodeReplacementStore.ts b/src/platform/nodeReplacement/nodeReplacementStore.ts
index e2e058ebda..d2ee2520f1 100644
--- a/src/platform/nodeReplacement/nodeReplacementStore.ts
+++ b/src/platform/nodeReplacement/nodeReplacementStore.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ export const useNodeReplacementStore = defineStore('nodeReplacement', () => {
   )
 
   async function load() {
-    if (isLoaded.value) return
+    if (isLoaded.value || !isEnabled.value) return
 
     try {
       replacements.value = await fetchNodeReplacements()
diff --git a/src/platform/settings/constants/coreSettings.ts b/src/platform/settings/constants/coreSettings.ts
index 73f71725fd..13dddf0389 100644
--- a/src/platform/settings/constants/coreSettings.ts
+++ b/src/platform/settings/constants/coreSettings.ts
@@ -1198,7 +1198,7 @@ export const CORE_SETTINGS: SettingParams[] = [
     tooltip:
       'When enabled, missing nodes can be automatically replaced with their newer equivalents if a replacement mapping exists.',
     type: 'boolean',
-    defaultValue: true,
+    defaultValue: false,
     experimental: true,
     versionAdded: '1.40.0'
   }