diff --git a/pkg/features/versioned_kube_features.go b/pkg/features/versioned_kube_features.go
index a5d4898dd31..60d8c8456f2 100644
--- a/pkg/features/versioned_kube_features.go
+++ b/pkg/features/versioned_kube_features.go
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ var defaultVersionedKubernetesFeatureGates = map[featuregate.Feature]featuregate
 	},
 
 	DeclarativeValidation: {
-		{Version: version.MustParse("1.33"), Default: false, PreRelease: featuregate.Beta},
+		{Version: version.MustParse("1.33"), Default: true, PreRelease: featuregate.Beta},
 	},
 
 	DeclarativeValidationTakeover: {
diff --git a/test/compatibility_lifecycle/reference/versioned_feature_list.yaml b/test/compatibility_lifecycle/reference/versioned_feature_list.yaml
index fec5eb228e1..806482b1d15 100644
--- a/test/compatibility_lifecycle/reference/versioned_feature_list.yaml
+++ b/test/compatibility_lifecycle/reference/versioned_feature_list.yaml
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@
     version: "1.32"
 - name: DeclarativeValidation
   versionedSpecs:
-  - default: false
+  - default: true
     lockToDefault: false
     preRelease: Beta
     version: "1.33"