diff --git a/include/hwmalloc/heap.hpp b/include/hwmalloc/heap.hpp
index ed1ae2b..b47aa0c 100644
--- a/include/hwmalloc/heap.hpp
+++ b/include/hwmalloc/heap.hpp
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ class heap
     std::mutex  m_mutex;
 
   public:
-    heap(Context* context, std::size_t max_size = s_large_limit * 2, bool never_free = false)
+    heap(Context* context, std::size_t max_size = s_large_limit * 2, bool never_free = true)
     : m_context{context}
     , m_max_size(std::max(round_to_pow_of_2(max_size), s_large_limit))
     , m_never_free{never_free}