diff --git a/Documentation/config-gerrit.txt b/Documentation/config-gerrit.txt
index fcc6eca89f..3dcee80a27 100644
--- a/Documentation/config-gerrit.txt
+++ b/Documentation/config-gerrit.txt
@@ -5687,10 +5687,10 @@ and "never" suppresses expiration altogether.
 [[protocol.version]]protocol.version::
 +
 If set, the server will accept requests from a client attempting to communicate
-using the specified protocol version. Otherwise communication falls back to version 0.
-If set in file `etc/jgit.config` this option will be used for all repositories of
-the site. It can be overridden for a given repository by configuring a different
-value in the repository's `config` file.
+using the specified protocol version. Default is `2`. If set in file
+`etc/jgit.config` this option will be used for all repositories of the site.
+It can be overridden for a given repository by configuring a different value in
+the repository's `config` file.
 +
 Supported versions:
 0:: the original wire protocol.
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/init/InitJGitConfig.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/init/InitJGitConfig.java
index 6e37f7f909..bad55b4c5f 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/init/InitJGitConfig.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/init/InitJGitConfig.java
@@ -64,22 +64,9 @@ class InitJGitConfig implements InitStep {
                 + "gc should be configured in gc config section or run as a separate process.");
       }
 
-      if (!jgitConfig
+      if (jgitConfig
           .getNames(ConfigConstants.CONFIG_PROTOCOL_SECTION)
           .contains(ConfigConstants.CONFIG_KEY_VERSION)) {
-        jgitConfig.setString(
-            ConfigConstants.CONFIG_PROTOCOL_SECTION,
-            null,
-            ConfigConstants.CONFIG_KEY_VERSION,
-            TransferConfig.ProtocolVersion.V2.version());
-        jgitConfig.save();
-        ui.error(
-            String.format(
-                "Auto-configured \"%s.%s = %s\" to activate git wire protocol version 2.",
-                ConfigConstants.CONFIG_PROTOCOL_SECTION,
-                ConfigConstants.CONFIG_KEY_VERSION,
-                TransferConfig.ProtocolVersion.V2.version()));
-      } else {
         String version =
             jgitConfig.getString(
                 ConfigConstants.CONFIG_PROTOCOL_SECTION, null, ConfigConstants.CONFIG_KEY_VERSION);
diff --git a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/integration/git/GitProtocolV2IT.java b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/integration/git/GitProtocolV2IT.java
index b52fcf46c2..f9df37560f 100644
--- a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/integration/git/GitProtocolV2IT.java
+++ b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/integration/git/GitProtocolV2IT.java
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ import com.google.inject.Inject;
 import java.io.File;
 import java.net.InetSocketAddress;
 import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Config;
-import org.eclipse.jgit.lib.Constants;
 import org.junit.BeforeClass;
 import org.junit.Test;
 
@@ -98,11 +97,6 @@ public class GitProtocolV2IT extends StandaloneSiteTest {
                   .group(SystemGroupBackend.REGISTERED_USERS))
           .update();
 
-      // Set protocol.version=2 in target repository
-      execute(
-          ImmutableList.of("git", "config", "protocol.version", "2"),
-          sitePaths.site_path.resolve("git").resolve(project.get() + Constants.DOT_GIT).toFile());
-
       // Retrieve HTTP url
       String url = config.getString("gerrit", null, "canonicalweburl");
       String urlDestinationTemplate =
@@ -217,15 +211,6 @@ public class GitProtocolV2IT extends StandaloneSiteTest {
       Project.NameKey allRefsVisibleProject = Project.nameKey("all-refs-visible");
       gApi.projects().create(allRefsVisibleProject.get());
 
-      // Set protocol.version=2 in target repository
-      execute(
-          ImmutableList.of("git", "config", "protocol.version", "2"),
-          sitePaths
-              .site_path
-              .resolve("git")
-              .resolve(allRefsVisibleProject.get() + Constants.DOT_GIT)
-              .toFile());
-
       // Set up project permission to allow reading all refs
       projectOperations
           .project(allRefsVisibleProject)
@@ -280,15 +265,6 @@ public class GitProtocolV2IT extends StandaloneSiteTest {
       Project.NameKey privateProject = Project.nameKey("private-project");
       gApi.projects().create(privateProject.get());
 
-      // Set protocol.version=2 in target repository
-      execute(
-          ImmutableList.of("git", "config", "protocol.version", "2"),
-          sitePaths
-              .site_path
-              .resolve("git")
-              .resolve(privateProject.get() + Constants.DOT_GIT)
-              .toFile());
-
       // Disallow general read permissions for anonymous users
       projectOperations
           .project(allProjectsName)