diff --git a/qa/rpc-tests/test_framework/util.py b/qa/rpc-tests/test_framework/util.py
index d9d5129f210..23c55ad698e 100644
--- a/qa/rpc-tests/test_framework/util.py
+++ b/qa/rpc-tests/test_framework/util.py
@@ -217,7 +217,8 @@ def start_node(i, dirname, extra_args=None, rpchost=None, timewait=None, binary=
     datadir = os.path.join(dirname, "node"+str(i))
     if binary is None:
         binary = os.getenv("BITCOIND", "bitcoind")
-    args = [ binary, "-datadir="+datadir, "-keypool=1", "-discover=0", "-rest" ]
+    # RPC tests still depend on free transactions
+    args = [ binary, "-datadir="+datadir, "-keypool=1", "-discover=0", "-rest", "-blockprioritysize=50000" ]
     if extra_args is not None: args.extend(extra_args)
     bitcoind_processes[i] = subprocess.Popen(args)
     devnull = open(os.devnull, "w")
diff --git a/src/policy/policy.h b/src/policy/policy.h
index c8d2c1a924d..31655f2f3a2 100644
--- a/src/policy/policy.h
+++ b/src/policy/policy.h
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class CCoinsViewCache;
 static const unsigned int DEFAULT_BLOCK_MAX_SIZE = 750000;
 static const unsigned int DEFAULT_BLOCK_MIN_SIZE = 0;
 /** Default for -blockprioritysize, maximum space for zero/low-fee transactions **/
-static const unsigned int DEFAULT_BLOCK_PRIORITY_SIZE = 50000;
+static const unsigned int DEFAULT_BLOCK_PRIORITY_SIZE = 0;
 /** The maximum size for transactions we're willing to relay/mine */
 static const unsigned int MAX_STANDARD_TX_SIZE = 100000;
 /** Maximum number of signature check operations in an IsStandard() P2SH script */