diff --git a/packages/angular/cli/lib/config/schema.json b/packages/angular/cli/lib/config/schema.json
index 99bc50ac4895..4b3fc35c06d2 100644
--- a/packages/angular/cli/lib/config/schema.json
+++ b/packages/angular/cli/lib/config/schema.json
@@ -1201,7 +1201,7 @@
             "watch": {
               "type": "boolean",
               "description": "Run build when files change.",
-              "default": false
+              "default": true
             },
             "poll": {
               "type": "number",