diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/refactoring/includes/IncludePreferences.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/refactoring/includes/IncludePreferences.java
index 6da4416bfa2..57f11d845f8 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/refactoring/includes/IncludePreferences.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.ui/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/ui/refactoring/includes/IncludePreferences.java
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ public class IncludePreferences implements Comparator<StyledInclude> {
 		store.setDefault(PreferenceConstants.FORWARD_DECLARE_TEMPLATES, false);
 		store.setDefault(PreferenceConstants.FORWARD_DECLARE_NAMESPACE_ELEMENTS, true);
 		store.setDefault(PreferenceConstants.INCLUDES_UNUSED_STATEMENTS_DISPOSITION,
-				UnusedStatementDisposition.COMMENT_OUT.toString());
+				UnusedStatementDisposition.REMOVE.toString());
 
 		store.setDefault(PreferenceConstants.INCLUDES_HEADER_SUBSTITUTION,
 				HeaderSubstitutionMap.serializeMaps(GCCHeaderSubstitutionMaps.getDefaultMaps()));