diff --git a/lib/common/watchdog.c b/lib/common/watchdog.c
index bf5df18..03ee7f1 100644
--- a/lib/common/watchdog.c
+++ b/lib/common/watchdog.c
@@ -244,16 +244,12 @@ pcmk__get_sbd_timeout(void)
 bool
 pcmk__get_sbd_sync_resource_startup(void)
 {
-    static bool sync_resource_startup = true; // default overruled by env
+    static bool sync_resource_startup = false;
     static bool checked_sync_resource_startup = false;
 
     if (!checked_sync_resource_startup) {
-        gboolean ret = FALSE;
-        const char *s = getenv("SBD_SYNC_RESOURCE_STARTUP");
-
-        if ((s != NULL) && (crm_str_to_boolean(s, &ret) > 0)) {
-            sync_resource_startup = ret;
-        }
+        sync_resource_startup =
+            crm_is_true(getenv("SBD_SYNC_RESOURCE_STARTUP"));
         checked_sync_resource_startup = true;
     }