diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2505.section.md b/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2505.section.md
index 3586d5788c79..51b62fac69d3 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2505.section.md
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2505.section.md
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@
 
 - Cinnamon has been updated to 6.4.
 
-- `networking.wireguard` now has an optional networkd backend. It is enabled by default when `networking.useNetworkd` is enabled, and it can be enabled alongside scripted networking with `networking.wireguard.useNetworkd`. Some `networking.wireguard` options have slightly different behavior with the networkd and script-based backends, documented in each option. Before upgrading, make sure the `privateKeyFile` and `presharedKeyFile` paths are readable by the `systemd-network` user if using the networkd backend.
+- `networking.wireguard` now has an optional networkd backend, enabled with `networking.wireguard.useNetworkd`. Some `networking.wireguard` options have slightly different behavior with the networkd and script-based backends, documented in each option. Before upgrading, make sure the `privateKeyFile` and `presharedKeyFile` paths are readable by the `systemd-network` user if using the networkd backend.
 
 - `services.avahi.ipv6` now defaults to true.
 
diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/networking/wireguard-networkd.nix b/nixos/modules/services/networking/wireguard-networkd.nix
index 711f6e6808c2..71f7ed6e182d 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/networking/wireguard-networkd.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/networking/wireguard-networkd.nix
@@ -96,8 +96,7 @@ in
 
   options.networking.wireguard = {
     useNetworkd = mkOption {
-      default = config.networking.useNetworkd;
-      defaultText = literalExpression "config.networking.useNetworkd";
+      default = false;
       type = types.bool;
       description = ''
         Whether to use networkd as the network configuration backend for