diff --git a/crates/nu-protocol/src/config.rs b/crates/nu-protocol/src/config.rs
index 7115ec7cf2..297f4df65c 100644
--- a/crates/nu-protocol/src/config.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-protocol/src/config.rs
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ impl Default for Config {
         Config {
             filesize_metric: false,
             table_mode: "rounded".into(),
-            table_show_empty: true,
+            table_show_empty: false,
             external_completer: None,
             use_ls_colors: true,
             color_config: HashMap::new(),
diff --git a/crates/nu-utils/src/sample_config/default_config.nu b/crates/nu-utils/src/sample_config/default_config.nu
index f53711f872..60b8f43f97 100644
--- a/crates/nu-utils/src/sample_config/default_config.nu
+++ b/crates/nu-utils/src/sample_config/default_config.nu
@@ -187,7 +187,6 @@ let-env config = {
   table: {
     mode: rounded # basic, compact, compact_double, light, thin, with_love, rounded, reinforced, heavy, none, other
     index_mode: always # "always" show indexes, "never" show indexes, "auto" = show indexes when a table has "index" column
-    show_empty: true # show 'empty list' and 'empty record' placeholders for command output
     trim: {
       methodology: wrapping # wrapping or truncating
       wrapping_try_keep_words: true # A strategy used by the 'wrapping' methodology