diff --git a/RELEASE_NOTES b/RELEASE_NOTES
index 210633e50..eca3b91d6 100644
--- a/RELEASE_NOTES
+++ b/RELEASE_NOTES
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ Bugs fixed
 - Bug 1701 - Ipv6StaticRouting: the source address should match the destination scope
 - Bug 1703 - Nodes don't react to a DAD
 - Bug 1718 - Ipv4StaticRouting log component is misspelled
+- Bug 1719 - IPv6 default state is set to not forward packets
 
 Known issues
 ------------
diff --git a/src/internet/model/ipv6.cc b/src/internet/model/ipv6.cc
index 91465ca19..7524647e2 100644
--- a/src/internet/model/ipv6.cc
+++ b/src/internet/model/ipv6.cc
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ TypeId Ipv6::GetTypeId (void)
   static TypeId tid = TypeId ("ns3::Ipv6")
     .SetParent<Object> ()
     .AddAttribute ("IpForward", "Globally enable or disable IP forwarding for all current and future IPv6 devices.",
-                   BooleanValue (false),
+                   BooleanValue (true),
                    MakeBooleanAccessor (&Ipv6::SetIpForward,
                                         &Ipv6::GetIpForward),
                    MakeBooleanChecker ())