diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/src/exporter_options.cc b/exporters/prometheus/src/exporter_options.cc
index a9de8f4eb4..2ac24b635d 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/src/exporter_options.cc
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/src/exporter_options.cc
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ inline bool GetPrometheusWithoutOtelScope()
   auto exists =
       opentelemetry::sdk::common::GetBoolEnvironmentVariable(kPrometheusWithoutOtelScope, setting);
 
-  return exists ? setting : true;
+  return exists ? setting : false;
 }
 
 inline bool GetPrometheusPopulateTargetInfo()