diff --git a/docs/config/setup/modules/defaultConfig.md b/docs/config/setup/modules/defaultConfig.md
index 0a3e15855..68486467c 100644
--- a/docs/config/setup/modules/defaultConfig.md
+++ b/docs/config/setup/modules/defaultConfig.md
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 #### Defined in
 
-[packages/mermaid/src/defaultConfig.ts:266](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/defaultConfig.ts#L266)
+[packages/mermaid/src/defaultConfig.ts:267](https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/packages/mermaid/src/defaultConfig.ts#L267)
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/defaultConfig.ts b/packages/mermaid/src/defaultConfig.ts
index aa6aa0608..feae37f52 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/defaultConfig.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/defaultConfig.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ const config: RequiredDeep<MermaidConfig> = {
   elk: {
     // mergeEdges is needed here to be considered
     mergeEdges: false,
+    nodePlacementStrategy: 'BRANDES_KOEPF',
   },
   themeCSS: undefined,