diff --git a/src/General/Config.coffee b/src/General/Config.coffee
index 5ceb0b714..9e6cdac07 100755
--- a/src/General/Config.coffee
+++ b/src/General/Config.coffee
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ Config =
         'Localize and format timestamps.'
       ]
       'Relative Post Dates': [
-        false
+        true
         'Display dates like "3 minutes ago". Tooltip shows the timestamp.'
       ]
       'Relative Date Title': [
diff --git a/src/Miscellaneous/RelativeDates.coffee b/src/Miscellaneous/RelativeDates.coffee
index 15c7eb9ca..3114a2e94 100644
--- a/src/Miscellaneous/RelativeDates.coffee
+++ b/src/Miscellaneous/RelativeDates.coffee
@@ -1,14 +1,13 @@
 RelativeDates =
   INTERVAL: $.MINUTE / 2
   init: ->
+    return unless Conf['Relative Post Dates']
     unless Conf['Relative Date Title']
       switch g.VIEW
         when 'index'
           @flush()
           $.on d, 'visibilitychange', @flush
-          return unless Conf['Relative Post Dates']
         when 'thread'
-          return unless Conf['Relative Post Dates']
           @flush()
           $.on d, 'visibilitychange ThreadUpdate', @flush if g.VIEW is 'thread'
         else