diff --git a/configure b/configure
index c43fa88bb1..b00df86f2b 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ mingw32="no"
 EXESUF=""
 gdbstub="yes"
 slirp="yes"
-vde="no"
+vde="yes"
 fmod_lib=""
 fmod_inc=""
 vnc_tls="yes"
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ for opt do
   ;;
   --disable-slirp) slirp="no"
   ;;
-  --enable-vde) vde="yes"
+  --disable-vde) vde="no"
   ;;
   --disable-kqemu) kqemu="no"
   ;;
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ echo "  --fmod-lib               path to FMOD library"
 echo "  --fmod-inc               path to FMOD includes"
 echo "  --enable-uname-release=R Return R for uname -r in usermode emulation"
 echo "  --sparc_cpu=V            Build qemu for Sparc architecture v7, v8, v8plus, v8plusa, v9"
-echo "  --enable-vde             enable support for vde network [$vde]"
+echo "  --disable-vde            disable support for vde network"
 echo ""
 echo "NOTE: The object files are built at the place where configure is launched"
 exit 1
@@ -735,11 +735,7 @@ EOF
     if $cc $ARCH_CFLAGS -o $TMPE $TMPC 2> /dev/null ; then
         :
     else
-        echo
-        echo "Error: VDE check failed"
-        echo "Make sure to have the VDE libs and headers installed."
-        echo
-        exit 1
+        vde="no"
     fi
 fi