diff --git a/handler/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/ssl/ReferenceCountedOpenSslContext.java b/handler/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/ssl/ReferenceCountedOpenSslContext.java
index a4b2961141..c79570c653 100644
--- a/handler/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/ssl/ReferenceCountedOpenSslContext.java
+++ b/handler/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/ssl/ReferenceCountedOpenSslContext.java
@@ -83,8 +83,9 @@ public abstract class ReferenceCountedOpenSslContext extends SslContext implemen
     private static final int DEFAULT_BIO_NON_APPLICATION_BUFFER_SIZE = Math.max(1,
             SystemPropertyUtil.getInt("io.netty.handler.ssl.openssl.bioNonApplicationBufferSize",
                     2048));
+    // Let's use tasks by default but still allow the user to disable it via system property just in case.
     static final boolean USE_TASKS =
-            SystemPropertyUtil.getBoolean("io.netty.handler.ssl.openssl.useTasks", false);
+            SystemPropertyUtil.getBoolean("io.netty.handler.ssl.openssl.useTasks", true);
     private static final Integer DH_KEY_LENGTH;
     private static final ResourceLeakDetector<ReferenceCountedOpenSslContext> leakDetector =
             ResourceLeakDetectorFactory.instance().newResourceLeakDetector(ReferenceCountedOpenSslContext.class);