diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/common-config.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/common-config.nix
index 93042548071b..4bec4f522cdf 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/common-config.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/common-config.nix
@@ -723,6 +723,8 @@ let
       # Randomize page allocator when page_alloc.shuffle=1
       SHUFFLE_PAGE_ALLOCATOR = whenAtLeast "5.2" yes;
 
+      INIT_ON_ALLOC_DEFAULT_ON = whenAtLeast "5.3" yes;
+
       # Enable stack smashing protections in schedule()
       # See: https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?h=v4.8&id=0d9e26329b0c9263d4d9e0422d80a0e73268c52f
       SCHED_STACK_END_CHECK            = yes;
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/hardened/config.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/hardened/config.nix
index d1fab48c9836..e92c0041cc31 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/hardened/config.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/hardened/config.nix
@@ -53,8 +53,7 @@ assert (versionAtLeast version "4.9");
   PAGE_POISONING_NO_SANITY = whenOlder "5.11" yes;
   PAGE_POISONING_ZERO      = whenOlder "5.11" yes;
 
-  # Enable init_on_alloc and init_on_free by default
-  INIT_ON_ALLOC_DEFAULT_ON = whenAtLeast "5.3" yes;
+  # Enable init_on_free by default
   INIT_ON_FREE_DEFAULT_ON  = whenAtLeast "5.3" yes;
 
   # Wipe all caller-used registers on exit from a function