diff --git a/React/Modules/RCTI18nUtil.m b/React/Modules/RCTI18nUtil.m
index 40367574f33110..443c9930233d68 100644
--- a/React/Modules/RCTI18nUtil.m
+++ b/React/Modules/RCTI18nUtil.m
@@ -42,12 +42,15 @@ - (BOOL)isRTL
 /**
  * Should be used very early during app start up
  * Before the bridge is initialized
+ * @return whether the app allows RTL layout, default is true
  */
 - (BOOL)isRTLAllowed
 {
-  BOOL rtlStatus = [[NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults]
-                            boolForKey:@"RCTI18nUtil_allowRTL"];
-  return rtlStatus;
+  NSNumber *value = [[NSUserDefaults standardUserDefaults] objectForKey:@"RCTI18nUtil_allowRTL"];
+  if (value == nil) {
+    return YES;
+  }
+  return [value boolValue];
 }
 
 - (void)allowRTL:(BOOL)rtlStatus
diff --git a/ReactAndroid/src/main/java/com/facebook/react/modules/i18nmanager/I18nUtil.java b/ReactAndroid/src/main/java/com/facebook/react/modules/i18nmanager/I18nUtil.java
index b6d8e75469fa1a..181e37f83558cb 100644
--- a/ReactAndroid/src/main/java/com/facebook/react/modules/i18nmanager/I18nUtil.java
+++ b/ReactAndroid/src/main/java/com/facebook/react/modules/i18nmanager/I18nUtil.java
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ private I18nUtil() {
   }
 
   public static I18nUtil getInstance() {
-    if(sharedI18nUtilInstance == null) {
+    if (sharedI18nUtilInstance == null) {
       sharedI18nUtilInstance = new I18nUtil();
     }
     return sharedI18nUtilInstance;
@@ -55,9 +55,10 @@ public boolean isRTL(Context context) {
   /**
    * Should be used very early during app start up
    * Before the bridge is initialized
+   * @return whether the app allows RTL layout, default is true
    */
   private boolean isRTLAllowed(Context context) {
-    return isPrefSet(context, KEY_FOR_PREFS_ALLOWRTL, false);
+    return isPrefSet(context, KEY_FOR_PREFS_ALLOWRTL, true);
   }
 
   public void allowRTL(Context context, boolean allowRTL) {