diff --git a/agent/verification_stop.py b/agent/verification_stop.py
index ea5cb7a6117..605d58d3a7d 100644
--- a/agent/verification_stop.py
+++ b/agent/verification_stop.py
@@ -137,12 +137,12 @@ def verify_on_stop_enabled(config: dict[str, Any] | None = None) -> bool:
 
     Precedence: an explicit ``HERMES_VERIFY_ON_STOP`` env var wins, then an
     explicit ``agent.verify_on_stop`` config value. The config default is
-    ``False`` (see ``DEFAULT_CONFIG``) — verify-on-stop is OFF unless the user
-    opts in. The legacy ``"auto"`` sentinel is still honored for anyone who
-    sets it explicitly: it resolves to ON for interactive coding surfaces
-    (CLI, TUI, desktop) and programmatic callers, and OFF for conversational
-    messaging surfaces (Telegram, Discord, etc.). A missing/unknown value
-    falls back to OFF.
+    ``"auto"`` (see ``DEFAULT_CONFIG``) — surface-aware: ON for interactive
+    coding surfaces (CLI, TUI, desktop) and programmatic callers, OFF for
+    conversational messaging surfaces (Telegram, Discord, etc.) where the
+    verification narrative would reach a human as chat noise. An explicit
+    bool forces the behavior in either direction. A missing or unrecognized
+    value falls back to the surface-aware ``"auto"`` default.
     """
     env = os.environ.get("HERMES_VERIFY_ON_STOP")
     if env is not None:
@@ -165,10 +165,9 @@ def verify_on_stop_enabled(config: dict[str, Any] | None = None) -> bool:
         if token in {"0", "false", "no", "off"}:
             return False
         if token == "auto":
-            # Explicit opt-in to the legacy surface-aware behavior.
             return not _session_is_messaging_surface()
-    # Missing or unknown value -> OFF (the new default).
-    return False
+    # Missing or unrecognized value -> surface-aware "auto" default.
+    return not _session_is_messaging_surface()
 
 
 def _candidate_cwds(paths: Iterable[str]) -> list[Path]:
diff --git a/hermes_cli/config.py b/hermes_cli/config.py
index 98f6b2f818d..4bd244354d9 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/config.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/config.py
@@ -1017,12 +1017,13 @@ DEFAULT_CONFIG = {
         # Verification closure: after the agent edits files in a code workspace,
         # do not accept a final answer until fresh verification evidence exists
         # or the agent explains why it cannot run checks. The loop is bounded
-        # and uses the passive verification ledger. Default is OFF — the
-        # verification narrative was more noise than signal for most users
-        # (it fired on doc/markdown/skill edits too). Set true to opt in, or
-        # "auto" for the legacy surface-aware behavior (on for interactive
-        # coding surfaces, off for conversational messaging surfaces).
-        "verify_on_stop": False,
+        # and uses the passive verification ledger. Default is "auto" —
+        # surface-aware: on for interactive coding surfaces (CLI, TUI, desktop)
+        # and programmatic callers, off for conversational messaging surfaces
+        # (Telegram, Discord, etc.) where the verification narrative would reach
+        # a human as chat noise. Doc/markdown/skill-only edits never fire it.
+        # Set true to force on everywhere, or false to disable.
+        "verify_on_stop": "auto",
         # Staged inactivity warning: send a warning to the user at this
         # threshold before escalating to a full timeout.  The warning fires
         # once per run and does not interrupt the agent.  0 = disable warning.
diff --git a/tests/agent/test_verification_stop.py b/tests/agent/test_verification_stop.py
index a695469908d..7beaf4a1ea7 100644
--- a/tests/agent/test_verification_stop.py
+++ b/tests/agent/test_verification_stop.py
@@ -44,13 +44,20 @@ def clear_verify_env(monkeypatch):
     return monkeypatch
 
 
-def test_verify_on_stop_default_is_off(clear_verify_env):
-    # No env, no explicit config -> default OFF (new default as of v31).
+def test_verify_on_stop_default_is_auto(clear_verify_env):
+    # No env, no explicit config -> surface-aware "auto" default. With no
+    # messaging surface bound, an interactive/unknown surface resolves ON.
+    assert verify_on_stop_enabled({"agent": {}}) is True
+
+
+def test_verify_on_stop_default_auto_off_on_messaging(clear_verify_env):
+    # The "auto" default resolves OFF on a conversational messaging surface.
+    clear_verify_env.setenv("HERMES_SESSION_PLATFORM", "telegram")
     assert verify_on_stop_enabled({"agent": {}}) is False
 
 
-def test_verify_on_stop_missing_agent_section_is_off(clear_verify_env):
-    assert verify_on_stop_enabled({}) is False
+def test_verify_on_stop_missing_agent_section_uses_auto(clear_verify_env):
+    assert verify_on_stop_enabled({}) is True
 
 
 def test_verify_on_stop_auto_sentinel_resolves_to_surface_default(clear_verify_env):
@@ -67,8 +74,9 @@ def test_verify_on_stop_env_can_disable(clear_verify_env):
 
 
 def test_verify_on_stop_env_can_enable(clear_verify_env):
-    # Env wins over the default-off config.
+    # Env "1" forces ON regardless of surface (here a messaging platform).
     clear_verify_env.setenv("HERMES_VERIFY_ON_STOP", "1")
+    clear_verify_env.setenv("HERMES_SESSION_PLATFORM", "telegram")
     assert verify_on_stop_enabled({"agent": {}}) is True
 
 
@@ -120,11 +128,11 @@ def test_verify_on_stop_auto_on_for_programmatic_surfaces(clear_verify_env, plat
     assert verify_on_stop_enabled({"agent": {"verify_on_stop": "auto"}}) is True
 
 
-def test_default_off_overrides_interactive_surface(clear_verify_env):
-    # The new default is OFF even on an interactive coding surface — only an
-    # explicit "auto"/true turns it back on.
+def test_default_auto_on_for_interactive_surface(clear_verify_env):
+    # The default is surface-aware "auto": an interactive coding surface
+    # resolves ON without any explicit opt-in.
     clear_verify_env.setenv("HERMES_SESSION_SOURCE", "cli")
-    assert verify_on_stop_enabled({"agent": {}}) is False
+    assert verify_on_stop_enabled({"agent": {}}) is True
 
 
 def test_env_forces_verify_on_stop_on_for_messaging(clear_verify_env):
@@ -141,21 +149,20 @@ def test_config_forces_verify_on_stop_on_for_messaging(clear_verify_env):
 def test_verify_on_stop_default_path_through_load_config(tmp_path, clear_verify_env):
     # E2E: the sole production caller passes no config, so verify_on_stop_enabled
     # resolves through load_config() + DEFAULT_CONFIG. The default is now the
-    # boolean False, so even an interactive surface resolves OFF without an
-    # explicit opt-in. This is the path the unit-level tests above cannot
-    # exercise.
+    # surface-aware "auto" sentinel. This is the path the unit-level tests above
+    # cannot exercise.
     clear_verify_env.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(tmp_path / ".hermes"))
 
     from hermes_cli.config import load_config
 
     merged = load_config()
-    assert merged["agent"]["verify_on_stop"] is False
+    assert merged["agent"]["verify_on_stop"] == "auto"
 
-    # Interactive surface still resolves OFF through the real loader.
+    # Interactive surface resolves ON through the real loader.
     clear_verify_env.setenv("HERMES_SESSION_SOURCE", "cli")
-    assert verify_on_stop_enabled() is False
+    assert verify_on_stop_enabled() is True
 
-    # A messaging platform also resolves OFF.
+    # A messaging platform resolves OFF.
     clear_verify_env.setenv("HERMES_SESSION_PLATFORM", "telegram")
     assert verify_on_stop_enabled() is False