diff --git a/scripts/startup/bl_ui/space_outliner.py b/scripts/startup/bl_ui/space_outliner.py
index 9849c625f7f..7143c1b6b7a 100644
--- a/scripts/startup/bl_ui/space_outliner.py
+++ b/scripts/startup/bl_ui/space_outliner.py
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ class OUTLINER_HT_header(Header):
             layout.operator("outliner.collection_new", text="", icon='COLLECTION_NEW').nested = True
 
         elif display_mode == 'ORPHAN_DATA':
-            layout.operator("outliner.orphans_purge", text="Purge").do_recursive = True
+            layout.operator("outliner.orphans_purge", text="Purge")
 
         elif space.display_mode == 'DATA_API':
             layout.separator()
diff --git a/source/blender/editors/space_outliner/outliner_edit.cc b/source/blender/editors/space_outliner/outliner_edit.cc
index a8c50be098f..b5993910dd2 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/space_outliner/outliner_edit.cc
+++ b/source/blender/editors/space_outliner/outliner_edit.cc
@@ -2340,7 +2340,7 @@ void OUTLINER_OT_orphans_purge(wmOperatorType *ot)
 
   RNA_def_boolean(ot->srna,
                   "do_recursive",
-                  false,
+                  true,
                   "Recursive Delete",
                   "Recursively check for indirectly unused data-blocks, ensuring that no orphaned "
                   "data-blocks remain after execution");