diff --git a/offlineimap/folder/LocalStatus.py b/offlineimap/folder/LocalStatus.py
index c07c2b5..9f2cf88 100644
--- a/offlineimap/folder/LocalStatus.py
+++ b/offlineimap/folder/LocalStatus.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ class LocalStatusFolder(BaseFolder):
         self.root = root
         self.sep = '.'
         self.config = config
-        self.dofsync = config.getdefaultboolean("general", "fsync")        
+        self.dofsync = config.getdefaultboolean("general", "fsync", True)
         self.filename = os.path.join(root, name)
         self.filename = repository.getfolderfilename(name)
         self.messagelist = None
diff --git a/offlineimap/folder/Maildir.py b/offlineimap/folder/Maildir.py
index 9b1b9ca..c7f5be0 100644
--- a/offlineimap/folder/Maildir.py
+++ b/offlineimap/folder/Maildir.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class MaildirFolder(BaseFolder):
     def __init__(self, root, name, sep, repository, accountname, config):
         self.name = name
         self.config = config
-        self.dofsync = config.getdefaultboolean("general", "fsync")
+        self.dofsync = config.getdefaultboolean("general", "fsync", True)
         self.root = root
         self.sep = sep
         self.messagelist = None