diff --git a/llvm/lib/CodeGen/LiveDebugValues/LiveDebugValues.cpp b/llvm/lib/CodeGen/LiveDebugValues/LiveDebugValues.cpp
index 8f697611a82c0..40770b15aa35b 100644
--- a/llvm/lib/CodeGen/LiveDebugValues/LiveDebugValues.cpp
+++ b/llvm/lib/CodeGen/LiveDebugValues/LiveDebugValues.cpp
@@ -123,6 +123,11 @@ bool LiveDebugValues::runOnMachineFunction(MachineFunction &MF) {
 }
 
 bool llvm::debuginfoShouldUseDebugInstrRef(const Triple &T) {
+  // Enable by default on x86_64, disable if explicitly turned off on cmdline.
+  if (T.getArch() == llvm::Triple::x86_64 &&
+      ValueTrackingVariableLocations != cl::boolOrDefault::BOU_FALSE)
+    return true;
+
   // Enable if explicitly requested on command line.
   return ValueTrackingVariableLocations == cl::boolOrDefault::BOU_TRUE;
 }
diff --git a/llvm/test/DebugInfo/X86/instr-ref-flag.ll b/llvm/test/DebugInfo/X86/instr-ref-flag.ll
index 56d34aedabd02..f9d5f99edf77f 100644
--- a/llvm/test/DebugInfo/X86/instr-ref-flag.ll
+++ b/llvm/test/DebugInfo/X86/instr-ref-flag.ll
@@ -13,10 +13,6 @@
 ;; by llc by default, and that it can be turned explicitly on or off as
 ;; desired.
 
-;; Xfail due to faults found in the discussion on
-;; https://reviews.llvm.org/D116821
-; XFAIL: *
-
 ; INSTRREFON: DBG_INSTR_REF
 ; INSTRREFOFF: DBG_VALUE