diff --git a/doc/ale.txt b/doc/ale.txt
index eca8d2defe..65a551a751 100644
--- a/doc/ale.txt
+++ b/doc/ale.txt
@@ -2290,7 +2290,7 @@ g:ale_use_global_executables                     *g:ale_use_global_executables*
 g:ale_virtualtext_cursor                             *g:ale_virtualtext_cursor*
 
   Type: |Number|
-  Default: `'disabled'`
+  Default: `'all'` (if supported, otherwise `'disabled'`)
 
   This option controls how ALE will display problems using |virtual-text|.
   The following values can be used.
diff --git a/plugin/ale.vim b/plugin/ale.vim
index 67a3dd5d3d..6aa115ead3 100644
--- a/plugin/ale.vim
+++ b/plugin/ale.vim
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ let g:ale_echo_cursor = get(g:, 'ale_echo_cursor', 1)
 let g:ale_cursor_detail = get(g:, 'ale_cursor_detail', 0)
 
 " This flag can be changed to disable/enable virtual text.
-let g:ale_virtualtext_cursor = get(g:, 'ale_virtualtext_cursor', 'disabled')
+let g:ale_virtualtext_cursor = get(g:, 'ale_virtualtext_cursor', (has('nvim-0.3.2') || has('patch-9.0.0297') && has('textprop') && has('popupwin')) ? 'all' : 'disabled')
 
 " This flag can be set to 1 to enable LSP hover messages at the cursor.
 let g:ale_hover_cursor = get(g:, 'ale_hover_cursor', 1)