diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index ba63b36d..c172baa4 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ postgresql_backend_flush_after:              0   # (>= 9.6) 0 disables, default
 
 # - Settings -
 
-postgresql_wal_level: "minimal"   # minimal, archive (<= 9.5), hot_standby (<= 9.5), replica (>= 9.6), or logical
+postgresql_wal_level: "replica "  # minimal, archive (<= 9.5), hot_standby (<= 9.5), replica (>= 9.6), or logical
 postgresql_fsync:     on          # flush data to disk for crash safety
                                           # (turning this off can cause
                                           # unrecoverable data corruption)
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ postgresql_recovery_min_apply_delay: 0             # (>= 12)
 # Set these on the master and on any standby that will send replication data.
 
 # max number of walsender processes
-postgresql_max_wal_senders: 0
+postgresql_max_wal_senders: 10
 postgresql_wal_sender_delay: 1s     # walsender cycle time, 1-10000 milliseconds (<= 9.1)
 
 postgresql_wal_keep_segments:        0   # in logfile segments, 16MB each; 0 disables
diff --git a/vars/postgresql_9.5.yml b/vars/postgresql_9.5.yml
index 01072258..0bb458bf 100644
--- a/vars/postgresql_9.5.yml
+++ b/vars/postgresql_9.5.yml
@@ -2,3 +2,5 @@
 # PostgreSQL vars for v9.5
 
 postgresql_autovacuum_vacuum_cost_delay: 20ms
+postgresql_max_wal_senders: 0
+postgresql_wal_level: "minimal"
diff --git a/vars/postgresql_9.6.yml b/vars/postgresql_9.6.yml
index 9b2aa443..2a621852 100644
--- a/vars/postgresql_9.6.yml
+++ b/vars/postgresql_9.6.yml
@@ -2,3 +2,5 @@
 # PostgreSQL vars for v9.6
 
 postgresql_autovacuum_vacuum_cost_delay: 20ms
+postgresql_max_wal_senders: 0
+postgresql_wal_level: "minimal"