diff --git a/app/alarm/model/src/main/java/org/phoebus/applications/alarm/model/xml/XmlModelReader.java b/app/alarm/model/src/main/java/org/phoebus/applications/alarm/model/xml/XmlModelReader.java
index baac459c48..fded541f13 100644
--- a/app/alarm/model/src/main/java/org/phoebus/applications/alarm/model/xml/XmlModelReader.java
+++ b/app/alarm/model/src/main/java/org/phoebus/applications/alarm/model/xml/XmlModelReader.java
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ private void processPV(final AlarmClientNode parent, final Element node) throws
         }
 
 
-        pv.setLatching(XMLUtil.getChildBoolean(node, TAG_LATCHING).orElse(false));
+        pv.setLatching(XMLUtil.getChildBoolean(node, TAG_LATCHING).orElse(true));
         pv.setAnnunciating(XMLUtil.getChildBoolean(node, TAG_ANNUNCIATING).orElse(false));
 
         XMLUtil.getChildString(node, TAG_DESCRIPTION).ifPresent(pv::setDescription);