diff --git a/docs/config/directives.md b/docs/config/directives.md
index 40ebd81a4..327ea5bf4 100644
--- a/docs/config/directives.md
+++ b/docs/config/directives.md
@@ -236,22 +236,27 @@ A --> C[End]
 
 Some common flowchart configurations are:
 
-- _htmlLabels_: true/false
 - _curve_: linear/curve
 - _diagramPadding_: number
 - _useMaxWidth_: number
 
+**Deprecated configurations:**
+
+- ~~_htmlLabels_~~: Use global `htmlLabels` instead
+
 For a complete list of flowchart configurations, see [defaultConfig.ts](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/develop/packages/mermaid/src/defaultConfig.ts) in the source code.
 _Soon we plan to publish a complete list of all diagram-specific configurations updated in the docs._
 
 The following code snippet changes flowchart config:
 
-`%%{init: { "flowchart": { "htmlLabels": true, "curve": "linear" } } }%%`
+```
+%%{init: { "htmlLabels": true, "flowchart": { "curve": "linear" } } }%%
+```
 
-Here we are overriding only the flowchart config, and not the general config, setting `htmlLabels` to `true` and `curve` to `linear`.
+**Note:** `flowchart.htmlLabels` has been deprecated. Use the global `htmlLabels` configuration instead.
 
 ```mermaid-example
-%%{init: { "flowchart": { "htmlLabels": true, "curve": "linear" } } }%%
+%%{init: { "htmlLabels": true, "flowchart": { "curve": "linear" } } }%%
 graph TD
 A(Forest) --> B[/Another/]
 A --> C[End]
@@ -262,7 +267,7 @@ A --> C[End]
 ```
 
 ```mermaid
-%%{init: { "flowchart": { "htmlLabels": true, "curve": "linear" } } }%%
+%%{init: { "htmlLabels": true, "flowchart": { "curve": "linear" } } }%%
 graph TD
 A(Forest) --> B[/Another/]
 A --> C[End]
diff --git a/docs/config/setup/config/README.md b/docs/config/setup/config/README.md
index c811c7b08..6f7e451cb 100644
--- a/docs/config/setup/config/README.md
+++ b/docs/config/setup/config/README.md
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 
 - [addDirective](functions/addDirective.md)
 - [getConfig](functions/getConfig.md)
+- [getEffectiveHtmlLabels](functions/getEffectiveHtmlLabels.md)
 - [getSiteConfig](functions/getSiteConfig.md)
 - [getUserDefinedConfig](functions/getUserDefinedConfig.md)
 - [reset](functions/reset.md)
diff --git a/docs/config/setup/config/functions/getEffectiveHtmlLabels.md b/docs/config/setup/config/functions/getEffectiveHtmlLabels.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..da7f8a4a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/config/setup/config/functions/getEffectiveHtmlLabels.md
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+> **Warning**
+>
+> ## THIS IS AN AUTOGENERATED FILE. DO NOT EDIT.
+>
+> ## Please edit the corresponding file in [/packages/mermaid/src/docs/config/setup/config/functions/getEffectiveHtmlLabels.md](../../../../../packages/mermaid/src/docs/config/setup/config/functions/getEffectiveHtmlLabels.md).
+
+[**mermaid**](../../README.md)
+
+---
+
+# Function: getEffectiveHtmlLabels()
+
+> **getEffectiveHtmlLabels**(`config`): `boolean`
+
+Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/config.ts:272](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/config.ts#L272)
+
+Helper function to handle deprecated flowchart.htmlLabels
+
+## Parameters
+
+### config
+
+[`MermaidConfig`](../../mermaid/interfaces/MermaidConfig.md)
+
+The configuration object
+
+## Returns
+
+`boolean`
diff --git a/docs/config/setup/config/functions/getUserDefinedConfig.md b/docs/config/setup/config/functions/getUserDefinedConfig.md
index ed39f1337..5c037a84e 100644
--- a/docs/config/setup/config/functions/getUserDefinedConfig.md
+++ b/docs/config/setup/config/functions/getUserDefinedConfig.md
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 
 > **getUserDefinedConfig**(): [`MermaidConfig`](../../mermaid/interfaces/MermaidConfig.md)
 
-Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/config.ts:252](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/config.ts#L252)
+Defined in: [packages/mermaid/src/config.ts:254](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/config.ts#L254)
 
 ## Returns
 
diff --git a/docs/config/usage.md b/docs/config/usage.md
index e157d1827..0df1e1cbd 100644
--- a/docs/config/usage.md
+++ b/docs/config/usage.md
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ The list of configuration objects are described [in the mermaidAPI documentation
 ```html
 <script type="module">
   import mermaid from './mermaid.esm.mjs';
-  let config = { startOnLoad: true, flowchart: { useMaxWidth: false, htmlLabels: true } };
+  let config = { startOnLoad: true, htmlLabels: true, flowchart: { useMaxWidth: false } };
   mermaid.initialize(config);
 </script>
 ```
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/config.ts b/packages/mermaid/src/config.ts
index 4fcb3224d..a9d3c1159 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/config.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/config.ts
@@ -227,6 +227,8 @@ export const reset = (config = siteConfig): void => {
 const ConfigWarning = {
   LAZY_LOAD_DEPRECATED:
     'The configuration options lazyLoadedDiagrams and loadExternalDiagramsAtStartup are deprecated. Please use registerExternalDiagrams instead.',
+  FLOWCHART_HTML_LABELS_DEPRECATED:
+    'flowchart.htmlLabels is deprecated. Please use global htmlLabels instead.',
 } as const;
 
 type ConfigWarningStrings = keyof typeof ConfigWarning;
@@ -262,3 +264,15 @@ export const getUserDefinedConfig = (): MermaidConfig => {
 
   return userConfig;
 };
+
+/**
+ * Helper function to handle deprecated flowchart.htmlLabels
+ * @param config - The configuration object
+ */
+export const getEffectiveHtmlLabels = (config: MermaidConfig): boolean => {
+  if (config.flowchart?.htmlLabels !== undefined) {
+    issueWarning('FLOWCHART_HTML_LABELS_DEPRECATED');
+  }
+
+  return config.htmlLabels ?? config.flowchart?.htmlLabels ?? true;
+};
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/config.type.ts b/packages/mermaid/src/config.type.ts
index 79fadd195..4a2555348 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/config.type.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/config.type.ts
@@ -248,7 +248,12 @@ export interface FlowchartDiagramConfig extends BaseDiagramConfig {
    */
   diagramPadding?: number;
   /**
-   * Flag for setting whether or not a html tag should be used for rendering labels on the edges.
+   * @deprecated
+   * **DEPRECATED: Use global `htmlLabels` instead.**
+   *
+   * Flag for setting whether or not a html tag should be used for rendering labels on nodes and edges.
+   * This property is deprecated.
+   * Please use the global `htmlLabels` configuration instead.
    *
    */
   htmlLabels?: boolean;
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/clusters.js b/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/clusters.js
index 4103c48f3..49f243384 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/clusters.js
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/clusters.js
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ import createLabel from './createLabel.js';
 import { createText } from '../rendering-util/createText.js';
 import { select } from 'd3';
 import { getConfig } from '../diagram-api/diagramAPI.js';
-import { evaluate } from '../diagrams/common/common.js';
+import { getEffectiveHtmlLabels } from '../config.js';
+
 import { getSubGraphTitleMargins } from '../utils/subGraphTitleMargins.js';
 
 const rect = async (parent, node) => {
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ const rect = async (parent, node) => {
   // add the rect
   const rect = shapeSvg.insert('rect', ':first-child');
 
-  const useHtmlLabels = evaluate(siteConfig.flowchart.htmlLabels);
+  const useHtmlLabels = getEffectiveHtmlLabels(siteConfig);
 
   // Create the label and insert it after the rect
   const label = shapeSvg.insert('g').attr('class', 'cluster-label');
@@ -38,7 +39,7 @@ const rect = async (parent, node) => {
   // Get the size of the label
   let bbox = text.getBBox();
 
-  if (evaluate(siteConfig.flowchart.htmlLabels)) {
+  if (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(siteConfig)) {
     const div = text.children[0];
     const dv = select(text);
     bbox = div.getBoundingClientRect();
@@ -150,7 +151,7 @@ const roundedWithTitle = async (parent, node) => {
 
   // Get the size of the label
   let bbox = text.getBBox();
-  if (evaluate(siteConfig.flowchart.htmlLabels)) {
+  if (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(siteConfig)) {
     const div = text.children[0];
     const dv = select(text);
     bbox = div.getBoundingClientRect();
@@ -190,7 +191,7 @@ const roundedWithTitle = async (parent, node) => {
       node.y -
       node.height / 2 -
       node.padding / 3 +
-      (evaluate(siteConfig.flowchart.htmlLabels) ? 5 : 3) +
+      (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(siteConfig) ? 5 : 3) +
       subGraphTitleTopMargin
     })`
   );
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/createLabel.js b/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/createLabel.js
index fdab9a34e..d65a61f0c 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/createLabel.js
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/createLabel.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { select } from 'd3';
 import { getConfig } from '../diagram-api/diagramAPI.js';
-import { evaluate, sanitizeText } from '../diagrams/common/common.js';
+import { getEffectiveHtmlLabels } from '../config.js';
+import { sanitizeText } from '../diagrams/common/common.js';
 import { log } from '../logger.js';
 import { replaceIconSubstring } from '../rendering-util/createText.js';
 import { decodeEntities } from '../utils.js';
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ const createLabel = async (_vertexText, style, isTitle, isNode) => {
     vertexText = vertexText[0];
   }
   const config = getConfig();
-  if (evaluate(config.flowchart.htmlLabels)) {
+  if (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(config)) {
     // TODO: addHtmlLabel accepts a labelStyle. Do we possibly have that?
     vertexText = vertexText.replace(/\\n|\n/g, '<br />');
     log.debug('vertexText' + vertexText);
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/edges.js b/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/edges.js
index f945caf94..bc0dc58bf 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/edges.js
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/edges.js
@@ -3,8 +3,9 @@ import createLabel from './createLabel.js';
 import { createText } from '../rendering-util/createText.js';
 import { line, curveBasis, select } from 'd3';
 import { getConfig } from '../diagram-api/diagramAPI.js';
+import { getEffectiveHtmlLabels } from '../config.js';
 import utils from '../utils.js';
-import { evaluate, getUrl } from '../diagrams/common/common.js';
+import { getUrl } from '../diagrams/common/common.js';
 import { getLineFunctionsWithOffset } from '../utils/lineWithOffset.js';
 import { getSubGraphTitleMargins } from '../utils/subGraphTitleMargins.js';
 import { addEdgeMarkers } from './edgeMarker.js';
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ export const clear = () => {
 
 export const insertEdgeLabel = async (elem, edge) => {
   const config = getConfig();
-  const useHtmlLabels = evaluate(config.flowchart.htmlLabels);
+  const useHtmlLabels = getEffectiveHtmlLabels(config);
   // Create the actual text element
   const labelElement =
     edge.labelType === 'markdown'
@@ -133,7 +134,7 @@ export const insertEdgeLabel = async (elem, edge) => {
  * @param {any} value
  */
 function setTerminalWidth(fo, value) {
-  if (getConfig().flowchart.htmlLabels && fo) {
+  if (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(getConfig()) && fo) {
     fo.style.width = value.length * 9 + 'px';
     fo.style.height = '12px';
   }
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/nodes.js b/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/nodes.js
index 24dd5610f..28365f7eb 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/nodes.js
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/nodes.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { select } from 'd3';
 import { getConfig } from '../diagram-api/diagramAPI.js';
-import { evaluate } from '../diagrams/common/common.js';
+import { getEffectiveHtmlLabels } from '../config.js';
+
 import { log } from '../logger.js';
 import { getArrowPoints } from './blockArrowHelper.js';
 import createLabel from './createLabel.js';
@@ -588,7 +589,7 @@ const rectWithTitle = async (parent, node) => {
 
   const text = label.node().appendChild(await createLabel(title, node.labelStyle, true, true));
   let bbox = { width: 0, height: 0 };
-  if (evaluate(getConfig().flowchart.htmlLabels)) {
+  if (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(getConfig())) {
     const div = text.children[0];
     const dv = select(text);
     bbox = div.getBoundingClientRect();
@@ -609,7 +610,7 @@ const rectWithTitle = async (parent, node) => {
       )
     );
 
-  if (evaluate(getConfig().flowchart.htmlLabels)) {
+  if (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(getConfig())) {
     const div = descr.children[0];
     const dv = select(descr);
     bbox = div.getBoundingClientRect();
@@ -917,7 +918,7 @@ const class_box = async (parent, node) => {
     .node()
     .appendChild(await createLabel(interfaceLabelText, node.labelStyle, true, true));
   let interfaceBBox = interfaceLabel.getBBox();
-  if (evaluate(getConfig().flowchart.htmlLabels)) {
+  if (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(getConfig())) {
     const div = interfaceLabel.children[0];
     const dv = select(interfaceLabel);
     interfaceBBox = div.getBoundingClientRect();
@@ -932,7 +933,7 @@ const class_box = async (parent, node) => {
   let classTitleString = node.classData.label;
 
   if (node.classData.type !== undefined && node.classData.type !== '') {
-    if (getConfig().flowchart.htmlLabels) {
+    if (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(getConfig())) {
       classTitleString += '&lt;' + node.classData.type + '&gt;';
     } else {
       classTitleString += '<' + node.classData.type + '>';
@@ -943,7 +944,7 @@ const class_box = async (parent, node) => {
     .appendChild(await createLabel(classTitleString, node.labelStyle, true, true));
   select(classTitleLabel).attr('class', 'classTitle');
   let classTitleBBox = classTitleLabel.getBBox();
-  if (evaluate(getConfig().flowchart.htmlLabels)) {
+  if (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(getConfig())) {
     const div = classTitleLabel.children[0];
     const dv = select(classTitleLabel);
     classTitleBBox = div.getBoundingClientRect();
@@ -958,7 +959,7 @@ const class_box = async (parent, node) => {
   node.classData.members.forEach(async (member) => {
     const parsedInfo = member.getDisplayDetails();
     let parsedText = parsedInfo.displayText;
-    if (getConfig().flowchart.htmlLabels) {
+    if (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(getConfig())) {
       parsedText = parsedText.replace(/</g, '&lt;').replace(/>/g, '&gt;');
     }
     const lbl = labelContainer
@@ -972,7 +973,7 @@ const class_box = async (parent, node) => {
         )
       );
     let bbox = lbl.getBBox();
-    if (evaluate(getConfig().flowchart.htmlLabels)) {
+    if (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(getConfig())) {
       const div = lbl.children[0];
       const dv = select(lbl);
       bbox = div.getBoundingClientRect();
@@ -992,7 +993,7 @@ const class_box = async (parent, node) => {
   node.classData.methods.forEach(async (member) => {
     const parsedInfo = member.getDisplayDetails();
     let displayText = parsedInfo.displayText;
-    if (getConfig().flowchart.htmlLabels) {
+    if (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(getConfig())) {
       displayText = displayText.replace(/</g, '&lt;').replace(/>/g, '&gt;');
     }
     const lbl = labelContainer
@@ -1006,7 +1007,7 @@ const class_box = async (parent, node) => {
         )
       );
     let bbox = lbl.getBBox();
-    if (evaluate(getConfig().flowchart.htmlLabels)) {
+    if (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(getConfig())) {
       const div = lbl.children[0];
       const dv = select(lbl);
       bbox = div.getBoundingClientRect();
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/shapes/note.js b/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/shapes/note.js
index 514457cf0..9e7aad220 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/shapes/note.js
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/shapes/note.js
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 import { updateNodeBounds, labelHelper } from './util.js';
 import { log } from '../../logger.js';
 import { getConfig } from '../../diagram-api/diagramAPI.js';
+import { getEffectiveHtmlLabels } from '../../config.js';
 import intersect from '../intersect/index.js';
 
 const note = async (parent, node) => {
-  const useHtmlLabels = node.useHtmlLabels || getConfig().flowchart.htmlLabels;
+  const useHtmlLabels = getEffectiveHtmlLabels(getConfig()) || node.useHtmlLabels;
   if (!useHtmlLabels) {
     node.centerLabel = true;
   }
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/shapes/util.js b/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/shapes/util.js
index cbe683604..8a21b5f7f 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/shapes/util.js
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/dagre-wrapper/shapes/util.js
@@ -1,14 +1,15 @@
 import createLabel from '../createLabel.js';
 import { createText } from '../../rendering-util/createText.js';
 import { getConfig } from '../../diagram-api/diagramAPI.js';
+import { getEffectiveHtmlLabels } from '../../config.js';
 import { select } from 'd3';
-import { evaluate, sanitizeText } from '../../diagrams/common/common.js';
+import { sanitizeText } from '../../diagrams/common/common.js';
 import { decodeEntities } from '../../utils.js';
 
 export const labelHelper = async (parent, node, _classes, isNode) => {
   const config = getConfig();
   let classes;
-  const useHtmlLabels = node.useHtmlLabels || evaluate(config.flowchart.htmlLabels);
+  const useHtmlLabels = node.useHtmlLabels || getEffectiveHtmlLabels(config);
   if (!_classes) {
     classes = 'node default';
   } else {
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ export const labelHelper = async (parent, node, _classes, isNode) => {
   let bbox = text.getBBox();
   const halfPadding = node.padding / 2;
 
-  if (evaluate(config.flowchart.htmlLabels)) {
+  if (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(config)) {
     const div = text.children[0];
     const dv = select(text);
 
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/class/classRenderer-v2.ts b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/class/classRenderer-v2.ts
index 0f02efa0d..0fe4ce3aa 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/class/classRenderer-v2.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/class/classRenderer-v2.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { select, curveLinear } from 'd3';
 import * as graphlib from 'dagre-d3-es/src/graphlib/index.js';
 import { log } from '../../logger.js';
 import { getConfig } from '../../diagram-api/diagramAPI.js';
+import { getEffectiveHtmlLabels } from '../../config.js';
 import { render } from '../../dagre-wrapper/index.js';
 import utils, { getEdgeId } from '../../utils.js';
 import { interpolateToCurve, getStylesFromArray } from '../../utils.js';
@@ -260,7 +261,7 @@ export const addRelations = function (relations: ClassRelation[], g: graphlib.Gr
       edgeData.labelpos = 'c';
 
       // TODO V10: Flowchart ? Keeping flowchart for backwards compatibility. Remove in next major release
-      if (getConfig().flowchart?.htmlLabels ?? getConfig().htmlLabels) {
+      if (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(getConfig())) {
         edgeData.labelType = 'html';
         edgeData.label = '<span class="edgeLabel">' + edge.text + '</span>';
       } else {
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/common/common.ts b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/common/common.ts
index 045a729f7..0334782ef 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/common/common.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/common/common.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import DOMPurify from 'dompurify';
+import { getEffectiveHtmlLabels } from '../../config.js';
 import type { MermaidConfig } from '../../config.type.js';
 
 // Remove and ignore br:s
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ export const removeScript = (txt: string): string => {
 };
 
 const sanitizeMore = (text: string, config: MermaidConfig) => {
-  if (config.flowchart?.htmlLabels !== false) {
+  if (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(config)) {
     const level = config.securityLevel;
     if (level === 'antiscript' || level === 'strict') {
       text = removeScript(text);
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/docs/config/directives.md b/packages/mermaid/src/docs/config/directives.md
index 668c07c7a..e583565de 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/docs/config/directives.md
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/docs/config/directives.md
@@ -185,22 +185,27 @@ A --> C[End]
 
 Some common flowchart configurations are:
 
-- _htmlLabels_: true/false
 - _curve_: linear/curve
 - _diagramPadding_: number
 - _useMaxWidth_: number
 
+**Deprecated configurations:**
+
+- ~~_htmlLabels_~~: Use global `htmlLabels` instead
+
 For a complete list of flowchart configurations, see [defaultConfig.ts](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/develop/packages/mermaid/src/defaultConfig.ts) in the source code.
 _Soon we plan to publish a complete list of all diagram-specific configurations updated in the docs._
 
 The following code snippet changes flowchart config:
 
-`%%{init: { "flowchart": { "htmlLabels": true, "curve": "linear" } } }%%`
+```
+%%{init: { "htmlLabels": true, "flowchart": { "curve": "linear" } } }%%
+```
 
-Here we are overriding only the flowchart config, and not the general config, setting `htmlLabels` to `true` and `curve` to `linear`.
+**Note:** `flowchart.htmlLabels` has been deprecated. Use the global `htmlLabels` configuration instead.
 
 ```mermaid-example
-%%{init: { "flowchart": { "htmlLabels": true, "curve": "linear" } } }%%
+%%{init: { "htmlLabels": true, "flowchart": { "curve": "linear" } } }%%
 graph TD
 A(Forest) --> B[/Another/]
 A --> C[End]
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/docs/config/usage.md b/packages/mermaid/src/docs/config/usage.md
index 9e82ab87a..9af070e52 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/docs/config/usage.md
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/docs/config/usage.md
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ The list of configuration objects are described [in the mermaidAPI documentation
 ```html
 <script type="module">
   import mermaid from './mermaid.esm.mjs';
-  let config = { startOnLoad: true, flowchart: { useMaxWidth: false, htmlLabels: true } };
+  let config = { startOnLoad: true, htmlLabels: true, flowchart: { useMaxWidth: false } };
   mermaid.initialize(config);
 </script>
 ```
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts b/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts
index cf08d02f8..e69b52247 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/mermaidAPI.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import packageJson from '../package.json' assert { type: 'json' };
 import { addSVGa11yTitleDescription, setA11yDiagramInfo } from './accessibility.js';
 import assignWithDepth from './assignWithDepth.js';
 import * as configApi from './config.js';
+import { getEffectiveHtmlLabels } from './config.js';
 import type { MermaidConfig } from './config.type.js';
 import { addDiagrams } from './diagram-api/diagram-orchestration.js';
 import type { DiagramMetadata, DiagramStyleClassDef } from './diagram-api/types.js';
@@ -128,7 +129,7 @@ export const createCssStyles = (
 
   // classDefs defined in the diagram text
   if (classDefs instanceof Map) {
-    const htmlLabels = config.htmlLabels ?? config.flowchart?.htmlLabels; // TODO why specifically check the Flowchart diagram config?
+    const htmlLabels = getEffectiveHtmlLabels(config);
 
     const cssHtmlElements = ['> *', 'span']; // TODO make a constant
     const cssShapeElements = ['rect', 'polygon', 'ellipse', 'circle', 'path']; // TODO make a constant
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/clusters.js b/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/clusters.js
index 1dd87d438..a8e829b6f 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/clusters.js
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/clusters.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { getConfig } from '../../diagram-api/diagramAPI.js';
-import { evaluate } from '../../diagrams/common/common.js';
+import { getEffectiveHtmlLabels } from '../../config.js';
+
 import { log } from '../../logger.js';
 import { getSubGraphTitleMargins } from '../../utils/subGraphTitleMargins.js';
 import { select } from 'd3';
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ const rect = async (parent, node) => {
     .attr('id', node.id)
     .attr('data-look', node.look);
 
-  const useHtmlLabels = evaluate(siteConfig.flowchart.htmlLabels);
+  const useHtmlLabels = getEffectiveHtmlLabels(siteConfig);
 
   // Create the label and insert it after the rect
   const labelEl = shapeSvg.insert('g').attr('class', 'cluster-label ');
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ const rect = async (parent, node) => {
   // Get the size of the label
   let bbox = text.getBBox();
 
-  if (evaluate(siteConfig.flowchart.htmlLabels)) {
+  if (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(siteConfig)) {
     const div = text.children[0];
     const dv = select(text);
     bbox = div.getBoundingClientRect();
@@ -188,7 +189,7 @@ const roundedWithTitle = async (parent, node) => {
   // Get the size of the label
   let bbox = text.getBBox();
 
-  if (evaluate(siteConfig.flowchart.htmlLabels)) {
+  if (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(siteConfig)) {
     const div = text.children[0];
     const dv = select(text);
     bbox = div.getBoundingClientRect();
@@ -264,7 +265,7 @@ const roundedWithTitle = async (parent, node) => {
 
   label.attr(
     'transform',
-    `translate(${node.x - bbox.width / 2}, ${y + 1 - (evaluate(siteConfig.flowchart.htmlLabels) ? 0 : 3)})`
+    `translate(${node.x - bbox.width / 2}, ${y + 1 - (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(siteConfig) ? 0 : 3)})`
   );
 
   const rectBox = rect.node().getBBox();
@@ -295,7 +296,7 @@ const kanbanSection = async (parent, node) => {
     .attr('id', node.id)
     .attr('data-look', node.look);
 
-  const useHtmlLabels = evaluate(siteConfig.flowchart.htmlLabels);
+  const useHtmlLabels = getEffectiveHtmlLabels(siteConfig);
 
   // Create the label and insert it after the rect
   const labelEl = shapeSvg.insert('g').attr('class', 'cluster-label ');
@@ -310,7 +311,7 @@ const kanbanSection = async (parent, node) => {
   // Get the size of the label
   let bbox = text.getBBox();
 
-  if (evaluate(siteConfig.flowchart.htmlLabels)) {
+  if (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(siteConfig)) {
     const div = text.children[0];
     const dv = select(text);
     bbox = div.getBoundingClientRect();
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/createLabel.js b/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/createLabel.js
index de6f0403d..1a0f2accd 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/createLabel.js
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/createLabel.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { select } from 'd3';
 import { getConfig } from '../../diagram-api/diagramAPI.js';
+import { getEffectiveHtmlLabels } from '../../config.js';
 import common, {
-  evaluate,
   hasKatex,
   renderKatexSanitized,
   sanitizeText,
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ const createLabel = async (_vertexText, style, isTitle, isNode) => {
     vertexText = vertexText[0];
   }
 
-  if (evaluate(getConfig().flowchart.htmlLabels)) {
+  if (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(getConfig())) {
     // TODO: addHtmlLabel accepts a labelStyle. Do we possibly have that?
     vertexText = vertexText.replace(/\\n|\n/g, '<br />');
     log.info('vertexText' + vertexText);
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/edges.js b/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/edges.js
index 9e308631a..1c875bfdf 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/edges.js
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/edges.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { getConfig } from '../../diagram-api/diagramAPI.js';
-import { evaluate } from '../../diagrams/common/common.js';
+import { getEffectiveHtmlLabels } from '../../config.js';
 import { log } from '../../logger.js';
 import { createText } from '../createText.js';
 import utils from '../../utils.js';
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import rough from 'roughjs';
 import createLabel from './createLabel.js';
 import { addEdgeMarkers } from './edgeMarker.ts';
 import { isLabelStyle, styles2String } from './shapes/handDrawnShapeStyles.js';
+import { evaluate } from '../../diagrams/common/common.js';
 
 export const edgeLabels = new Map();
 export const terminalLabels = new Map();
@@ -161,7 +162,7 @@ export const insertEdgeLabel = async (elem, edge) => {
  * @param {any} value
  */
 function setTerminalWidth(fo, value) {
-  if (getConfig().flowchart.htmlLabels && fo) {
+  if (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(getConfig()) && fo) {
     fo.style.width = value.length * 9 + 'px';
     fo.style.height = '12px';
   }
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/shapes/note.ts b/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/shapes/note.ts
index bc1e2d277..2680426d0 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/shapes/note.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/shapes/note.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { styles2String, userNodeOverrides } from './handDrawnShapeStyles.js';
 import { getNodeClasses, labelHelper, updateNodeBounds } from './util.js';
 import type { D3Selection } from '../../../types.js';
 import { getConfig } from '../../../config.js';
+import { getEffectiveHtmlLabels } from '../../../config.js';
 
 export async function note<T extends SVGGraphicsElement>(
   parent: D3Selection<T>,
@@ -13,7 +14,7 @@ export async function note<T extends SVGGraphicsElement>(
 ) {
   const { labelStyles, nodeStyles } = styles2String(node);
   node.labelStyle = labelStyles;
-  const useHtmlLabels = node.useHtmlLabels || getConfig().flowchart?.htmlLabels !== false;
+  const useHtmlLabels = getEffectiveHtmlLabels(getConfig()) || node.useHtmlLabels;
   if (!useHtmlLabels) {
     node.centerLabel = true;
   }
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/shapes/util.ts b/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/shapes/util.ts
index 52471ecc0..8f7b2ea82 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/shapes/util.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/rendering-elements/shapes/util.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { createText } from '../../createText.js';
 import type { Node } from '../../types.js';
 import { getConfig } from '../../../diagram-api/diagramAPI.js';
+import { getEffectiveHtmlLabels } from '../../../config.js';
 import { select } from 'd3';
 import defaultConfig from '../../../defaultConfig.js';
 import { evaluate, sanitizeText } from '../../../diagrams/common/common.js';
@@ -130,7 +131,7 @@ export const insertLabel = async <T extends SVGGraphicsElement>(
     addSvgBackground?: boolean | undefined;
   }
 ) => {
-  const useHtmlLabels = options.useHtmlLabels || evaluate(getConfig()?.flowchart?.htmlLabels);
+  const useHtmlLabels = getEffectiveHtmlLabels(getConfig()) || options.useHtmlLabels;
 
   // Create the label and insert it after the rect
   const labelEl = parent
@@ -148,7 +149,7 @@ export const insertLabel = async <T extends SVGGraphicsElement>(
   let bbox = text.getBBox();
   const halfPadding = options.padding / 2;
 
-  if (evaluate(getConfig()?.flowchart?.htmlLabels)) {
+  if (getEffectiveHtmlLabels(getConfig())) {
     const div = text.children[0];
     const dv = select(text);
 
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/schemas/config.schema.yaml b/packages/mermaid/src/schemas/config.schema.yaml
index 4b75c9704..f230eebee 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/schemas/config.schema.yaml
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/schemas/config.schema.yaml
@@ -153,6 +153,8 @@ properties:
     default: false
   htmlLabels:
     type: boolean # maybe unused, seems to be copied in each diagram config
+    default: true
+
   fontFamily:
     description: |
       Specifies the font to be used in the rendered diagrams.
@@ -2052,7 +2054,6 @@ $defs: # JSON Schema definition (maybe we should move these to a separate file)
       - titleTopMargin
       - subGraphTitleMargin
       - diagramPadding
-      - htmlLabels
       - nodeSpacing
       - rankSpacing
       - curve
@@ -2084,9 +2085,14 @@ $defs: # JSON Schema definition (maybe we should move these to a separate file)
         default: 8
       htmlLabels:
         description: |
-          Flag for setting whether or not a html tag should be used for rendering labels on the edges.
+          **DEPRECATED: Use global `htmlLabels` instead.**
+
+          Flag for setting whether or not a html tag should be used for rendering labels on nodes and edges.
+          This property is deprecated.
+          Please use the global `htmlLabels` configuration instead.
         type: boolean
         default: true
+        deprecated: true
       nodeSpacing:
         description: |
           Defines the spacing between nodes on the same level