diff --git a/cli/lsp/config.rs b/cli/lsp/config.rs
index fcea96aa5d..c9729a5e5d 100644
--- a/cli/lsp/config.rs
+++ b/cli/lsp/config.rs
@@ -1084,7 +1084,6 @@ impl Default for LspTsConfig {
         "strict": true,
         "target": "esnext",
         "useDefineForClassFields": true,
-        "useUnknownInCatchVariables": false,
         "jsx": "react",
         "jsxFactory": "React.createElement",
         "jsxFragmentFactory": "React.Fragment",
diff --git a/cli/schemas/config-file.v1.json b/cli/schemas/config-file.v1.json
index df8177af29..d0dc27e759 100644
--- a/cli/schemas/config-file.v1.json
+++ b/cli/schemas/config-file.v1.json
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@
         "useUnknownInCatchVariables": {
           "description": "Default catch clause variables as `unknown` instead of `any`.",
           "type": "boolean",
-          "default": false,
+          "default": true,
           "markdownDescription": "Default catch clause variables as `unknown` instead of `any`.\n\nSee more: https://www.typescriptlang.org/tsconfig#useUnknownInCatchVariables"
         }
       }
diff --git a/cli/tsc/99_main_compiler.js b/cli/tsc/99_main_compiler.js
index f35fa7b5d3..4044c5fc16 100644
--- a/cli/tsc/99_main_compiler.js
+++ b/cli/tsc/99_main_compiler.js
@@ -1152,7 +1152,6 @@ delete Object.prototype.__proto__;
         "strict": true,
         "target": "esnext",
         "useDefineForClassFields": true,
-        "useUnknownInCatchVariables": false,
         "jsx": "react",
         "jsxFactory": "React.createElement",
         "jsxFragmentFactory": "React.Fragment",
diff --git a/tests/specs/check/use_unknown_in_catch_variables/__test__.jsonc b/tests/specs/check/use_unknown_in_catch_variables/__test__.jsonc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a991c6eed4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/specs/check/use_unknown_in_catch_variables/__test__.jsonc
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+  "args": "check main.ts",
+  "output": "main.out",
+  "exitCode": 1
+}
diff --git a/tests/specs/check/use_unknown_in_catch_variables/main.out b/tests/specs/check/use_unknown_in_catch_variables/main.out
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..28236849e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/specs/check/use_unknown_in_catch_variables/main.out
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+Check file:///[WILDCARD]/main.ts
+error: TS18046 [ERROR]: 'e' is of type 'unknown'.
+  console.log(e.message);
+              ^
+    at file://[WILDCARD]/use_unknown_in_catch_variables/main.ts:4:15
diff --git a/tests/specs/check/use_unknown_in_catch_variables/main.ts b/tests/specs/check/use_unknown_in_catch_variables/main.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..abab554a43
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/specs/check/use_unknown_in_catch_variables/main.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+try {
+  throw new Error();
+} catch (e) {
+  console.log(e.message);
+}