diff --git a/docs/configs/top-level.rst b/docs/configs/top-level.rst
index 8a46857..0e3a709 100644
--- a/docs/configs/top-level.rst
+++ b/docs/configs/top-level.rst
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ write_initial_state:
 
 The ``write_initial_state`` option specifies whether to write the
 initial state to the output (i.e. "step zero" of the forecast). Default
-is ``false``.
+is ``true``.
 
 allow_nans:
 ===========
diff --git a/src/anemoi/inference/config.py b/src/anemoi/inference/config.py
index bdae84d..0772b32 100644
--- a/src/anemoi/inference/config.py
+++ b/src/anemoi/inference/config.py
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ class Config:
     use_grib_paramid: bool = False
     """If True, the runner will use the grib parameter ID when generating MARS requests."""
 
-    write_initial_state: bool = False
+    write_initial_state: bool = True
     """Wether to write the initial state to the output file. If the model is multi-step, only fields at the forecast reference date are
     written."""