diff --git a/src/cvars.cpp b/src/cvars.cpp
index acdf1564e..48188f978 100644
--- a/src/cvars.cpp
+++ b/src/cvars.cpp
@@ -546,7 +546,14 @@ consvar_t cv_pause = NetVar("pausepermission", "Server Admins").values({{0, "Ser
 consvar_t cv_pingmeasurement = Server("pingmeasurement", "Frames").values({{0, "Frames"}, {1, "Milliseconds"}});
 consvar_t cv_playbackspeed = Server("playbackspeed", "1").min_max(1, 10).dont_save();
 
-consvar_t cv_recordmultiplayerdemos = Server("netdemo_record", "Manual Save").values({{0, "Disabled"}, {1, "Manual Save"}, {2, "Auto Save"}});
+static constexpr const char* kNetDemoRecordDefault =
+#ifdef DEVELOP
+	"Auto Save";
+#else
+	"Manual Save";
+#endif
+
+consvar_t cv_recordmultiplayerdemos = Server("netdemo_record", kNetDemoRecordDefault).values({{0, "Disabled"}, {1, "Manual Save"}, {2, "Auto Save"}});
 
 consvar_t cv_reducevfx = Server("reducevfx", "No").yes_no();
 consvar_t cv_screenshake = Server("screenshake", "Full").values({{0, "Off"}, {1, "Half"}, {2, "Full"}});