diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/lib/starpilot_visuals.py b/selfdrive/ui/lib/starpilot_visuals.py
index c21b0b201..c73d9962f 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/lib/starpilot_visuals.py
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/lib/starpilot_visuals.py
@@ -16,10 +16,9 @@ def get_border_width(base_width: int, params: Params | None = None) -> int:
   return max(1, int(round(base_width * scale / 100.0)))
 
 
-def lead_indicator_enabled(params: Params | None = None) -> bool:
+def lead_indicator_enabled(params: Params | None = None, *, hide_by_default: bool = False) -> bool:
   active_params = params if params is not None else Params()
 
-  return (
-    active_params.get_bool("LeadIndicator", default=False)
-    and not active_params.get_bool("HideLeadMarker", default=False)
-  )
+  if active_params.get("HideLeadMarker") is None:
+    return not hide_by_default
+  return not active_params.get_bool("HideLeadMarker")
diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/mici/layouts/settings/visuals.py b/selfdrive/ui/mici/layouts/settings/visuals.py
index a8b4bc032..8f55abb31 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/mici/layouts/settings/visuals.py
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/mici/layouts/settings/visuals.py
@@ -47,11 +47,10 @@ class LeadIndicatorBigButton(BigToggle):
 
   def _handle_mouse_release(self, mouse_pos):
     super()._handle_mouse_release(mouse_pos)
-    self.params.put_bool("LeadIndicator", self._checked)
     self.params.put_bool("HideLeadMarker", not self._checked)
 
   def refresh(self):
-    self.set_checked(lead_indicator_enabled(self.params))
+    self.set_checked(lead_indicator_enabled(self.params, hide_by_default=True))
 
 
 class VisualsLayoutMici(NavScroller):
diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/mici/onroad/model_renderer.py b/selfdrive/ui/mici/onroad/model_renderer.py
index 7d8d7fc8c..c8bf5cb7d 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/mici/onroad/model_renderer.py
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/mici/onroad/model_renderer.py
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ class ModelRenderer(Widget):
     model = sm['modelV2']
     radar_state = sm['radarState'] if sm.valid['radarState'] else None
     lead_one = radar_state.leadOne if radar_state else None
-    render_lead_indicator = self._longitudinal_control and radar_state is not None and lead_indicator_enabled(self._params)
+    render_lead_indicator = self._longitudinal_control and radar_state is not None and lead_indicator_enabled(self._params, hide_by_default=True)
 
     # Update model data when needed
     model_updated = sm.updated['modelV2']
diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/tests/test_starpilot_visuals.py b/selfdrive/ui/tests/test_starpilot_visuals.py
index 5f57970bf..45cf8a1dc 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/tests/test_starpilot_visuals.py
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/tests/test_starpilot_visuals.py
@@ -15,6 +15,12 @@ class FakeParams:
   def __init__(self, values=None):
     self.values = values or {}
 
+  def get(self, key, block=False, return_default=False, encoding=None, default=None):
+    if key not in self.values:
+      return None
+    v = self.values[key]
+    return v if isinstance(v, bytes) else str(v).encode()
+
   def get_bool(self, key, block=False, default=False):
     value = self.values.get(key, default)
     if isinstance(value, bool):
@@ -23,14 +29,14 @@ class FakeParams:
 
 
 class TestStarPilotVisuals(unittest.TestCase):
-  def test_lead_indicator_disabled_by_default(self):
-    self.assertFalse(lead_indicator_enabled(FakeParams()))
+  def test_lead_indicator_enabled_by_default(self):
+    self.assertTrue(lead_indicator_enabled(FakeParams()))
 
-  def test_lead_indicator_can_be_enabled(self):
-    self.assertTrue(lead_indicator_enabled(FakeParams({"LeadIndicator": True})))
+  def test_hide_lead_marker_disables(self):
+    self.assertFalse(lead_indicator_enabled(FakeParams({"HideLeadMarker": True})))
 
-  def test_hide_lead_marker_suppresses_lead_indicator(self):
-    self.assertFalse(lead_indicator_enabled(FakeParams({"LeadIndicator": True, "HideLeadMarker": True})))
+  def test_hide_by_default_returns_false_when_unset(self):
+    self.assertFalse(lead_indicator_enabled(FakeParams(), hide_by_default=True))
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/starpilot/system/the_galaxy/the_galaxy.py b/starpilot/system/the_galaxy/the_galaxy.py
index d4f09e858..807157915 100644
--- a/starpilot/system/the_galaxy/the_galaxy.py
+++ b/starpilot/system/the_galaxy/the_galaxy.py
@@ -2557,15 +2557,11 @@ def _get_lead_indicator_enabled(defaults_lookup=None):
   if defaults_lookup is None:
     defaults_lookup = _get_default_param_values()
 
-  lead_raw = _safe_params_get_live_raw("LeadIndicator")
-  if _is_blank_param_raw(lead_raw):
-    lead_raw = defaults_lookup.get("LeadIndicator", "0")
-
   hide_raw = _safe_params_get_live_raw("HideLeadMarker")
   if _is_blank_param_raw(hide_raw):
     hide_raw = defaults_lookup.get("HideLeadMarker", "0")
 
-  return _coerce_param_value(lead_raw, bool) and not _coerce_param_value(hide_raw, bool)
+  return not _coerce_param_value(hide_raw, bool)
 
 
 def _get_custom_accel_profile_initialized():