diff --git a/gerrit-gwtui/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/client/admin/CreateProjectScreen.java b/gerrit-gwtui/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/client/admin/CreateProjectScreen.java
index a73d78e194..02b9169024 100644
--- a/gerrit-gwtui/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/client/admin/CreateProjectScreen.java
+++ b/gerrit-gwtui/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/client/admin/CreateProjectScreen.java
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ public class CreateProjectScreen extends Screen {
     addGrid(fp);
 
     emptyCommit = new CheckBox(AdminConstants.I.checkBoxEmptyCommit());
+    emptyCommit.setValue(true);
     permissionsOnly = new CheckBox(AdminConstants.I.checkBoxPermissionsOnly());
     fp.add(emptyCommit);
     fp.add(permissionsOnly);
diff --git a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/admin/gr-create-project-dialog/gr-create-project-dialog.js b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/admin/gr-create-project-dialog/gr-create-project-dialog.js
index 3831534b81..f8fb510dba 100644
--- a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/admin/gr-create-project-dialog/gr-create-project-dialog.js
+++ b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/admin/gr-create-project-dialog/gr-create-project-dialog.js
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
         value: () => {
           // Set default values for dropdowns.
           return {
-            create_empty_commit: false,
+            create_empty_commit: true,
             permissions_only: false,
           };
         },
diff --git a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/admin/gr-create-project-dialog/gr-create-project-dialog_test.html b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/admin/gr-create-project-dialog/gr-create-project-dialog_test.html
index e9a644f10f..66273c0d81 100644
--- a/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/admin/gr-create-project-dialog/gr-create-project-dialog_test.html
+++ b/polygerrit-ui/app/elements/admin/gr-create-project-dialog/gr-create-project-dialog_test.html
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ limitations under the License.
     });
 
     test('default values are populated', () => {
-      assert.isFalse(element.$.initalCommit.bindValue);
+      assert.isTrue(element.$.initalCommit.bindValue);
       assert.isFalse(element.$.parentProject.bindValue);
     });