diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/bootloader/README.rst b/diskimage_builder/elements/bootloader/README.rst
index 17c5a1187..8dbe172cf 100644
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/bootloader/README.rst
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/bootloader/README.rst
@@ -8,12 +8,12 @@ Arguments
 =========
 
 * ``DIB_GRUB_TIMEOUT`` sets the ``grub`` menu timeout.  It defaults to
-  1 seconds.  Set this to 0 (no timeout) for fast boot times.
+  5 seconds.  Set this to 0 (no timeout) for fast boot times.
 
 * ``DIB_GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE`` sets the visibility of the ``grub`` menu.
-  It defaults to ``hidden`` (or ``countdown`` as an alias). Set this to
-  ``menu`` to display the menu and then wait for the timeout set by
-  ``DIB_GRUB_TIMEOUT`` to expire before booting the default entry.
+  It defaults to ``menu``. Set this to   ``hidden`` (or ``countdown``
+  as an alias) to not display the menu until the timeout is reached at
+  which point the default boot entry will be selected.
 
 * ``DIB_BOOTLOADER_DEFAULT_CMDLINE`` sets parameters that are appended
   to the ``GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT`` values in ``grub.cfg``
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ Arguments
   to be disabled in the resulting image by setting to a value of ``False``.
 
 * ``DIB_BOOTLOADER_SERIAL_CONSOLE`` sets the serial device to be
-  used as a console. It defaults to ``hvc0`` for PowerPC, 
+  used as a console. It defaults to ``hvc0`` for PowerPC,
   ``ttyAMA0,115200`` for ARM64, otherwise ``ttyS0,115200``.
 
 * ``DIB_BOOTLOADER_VIRTUAL_TERMINAL`` sets the virtual terminal be
diff --git a/diskimage_builder/elements/bootloader/finalise.d/50-bootloader b/diskimage_builder/elements/bootloader/finalise.d/50-bootloader
index f3e0c2f36..7b272fdc5 100755
--- a/diskimage_builder/elements/bootloader/finalise.d/50-bootloader
+++ b/diskimage_builder/elements/bootloader/finalise.d/50-bootloader
@@ -116,8 +116,14 @@ fi
 
 append_or_replace /etc/default/grub GRUB_DEVICE "LABEL=${DIB_ROOT_LABEL}"
 append_or_replace /etc/default/grub GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_UUID true
-append_or_replace /etc/default/grub GRUB_TIMEOUT "${DIB_GRUB_TIMEOUT:-1}"
-append_or_replace /etc/default/grub GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE "${DIB_GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE:-hidden}"
+# Please do not change these defaults unless the change is to only set our
+# overrides when overrides are present. The current defaults are based on
+# upstream Grub defaults. These values are clearly contentious with different
+# groups wanting different values. For this reason we pick the current GRUB
+# defaults and stick to them. The only exception should be an update to
+# fall through to GRUB using its own defaults.
+append_or_replace /etc/default/grub GRUB_TIMEOUT "${DIB_GRUB_TIMEOUT:-5}"
+append_or_replace /etc/default/grub GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE "${DIB_GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE:-menu}"
 if [[ "True" == "${DIB_BOOTLOADER_USE_SERIAL_CONSOLE:-True}" ]]; then
     append_or_replace /etc/default/grub GRUB_TERMINAL \""serial console"\"
 else
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/grub_style-dfafe48d719f5579.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/grub_style-dfafe48d719f5579.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..129ed0ea4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/grub_style-dfafe48d719f5579.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+upgrade:
+  - |
+    Change default values for ``DIB_GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE`` and
+    ``DIB_GRUB_TIMEOUT``. The default value for ``DIB_GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE``
+    will be ``menu`` and for ``DIB_GRUB_TIMEOUT`` will be ``5``. These
+    values are based on current GRUB defaults.