diff --git a/wp-admin/includes/user.php b/wp-admin/includes/user.php
index aa0d7c0692..af35160a9c 100644
--- a/wp-admin/includes/user.php
+++ b/wp-admin/includes/user.php
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ function edit_user( $user_id = 0 ) {
 	else if ( isset( $_POST['rich_editing'] ) )
 		$user->rich_editing = $_POST['rich_editing'];
 	else
-		$user->rich_editing = 'false';
+		$user->rich_editing = 'true';
 
 	$user->use_ssl = 0;
 	if ( !empty($_POST['use_ssl']) )
diff --git a/wp-admin/user-edit.php b/wp-admin/user-edit.php
index 766ba60726..f0854a2215 100644
--- a/wp-admin/user-edit.php
+++ b/wp-admin/user-edit.php
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ include ('admin-header.php');
 <?php if ( rich_edit_exists() ) : // don't bother showing the option if the editor has been removed ?>
 	<tr>
 		<th scope="row"><?php _e('Visual Editor')?></th>
-		<td><label for="rich_editing"><input name="rich_editing" type="checkbox" id="rich_editing" value="true" <?php checked('true', $profileuser->rich_editing); ?> /> <?php _e('Use the visual editor when writing'); ?></label></td>
+		<td><label for="rich_editing"><input name="rich_editing" type="checkbox" id="rich_editing" value="false" <?php checked('false', $profileuser->rich_editing); ?> /> <?php _e('Disable the visual editor when writing'); ?></label></td>
 	</tr>
 <?php endif; ?>
 <?php if (count($_wp_admin_css_colors) > 1 ) : ?>