diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/DragPan.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/DragPan.js
index 1b9bd1fab4..2e2146f2cd 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/DragPan.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/DragPan.js
@@ -56,11 +56,11 @@ OpenLayers.Control.DragPan = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Control, {
      * {Boolean} Set this option to enable "kinetic dragging". Can be
      *     set to true or to an object. If set to an object this
      *     object will be passed to the {<OpenLayers.Kinetic>}
-     *     constructor. Defaults to false.
-     *     If you set this property, you should ensure that 
-     *     OpenLayers/Kinetic.js is included in your build config
+     *     constructor. Defaults to true.
+     *     To get kinetic dragging, ensure that OpenLayers/Kinetic.js is
+     *     included in your build config.
      */
-    enableKinetic: false,
+    enableKinetic: true,
 
     /**
      * APIProperty: kineticInterval
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ OpenLayers.Control.DragPan = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Control, {
      * <panMapDone> as callbacks.
      */    
     draw: function() {
-        if(this.enableKinetic) {
+        if (this.enableKinetic && OpenLayers.Kinetic) {
             var config = {interval: this.kineticInterval};
             if(typeof this.enableKinetic === "object") {
                 config = OpenLayers.Util.extend(config, this.enableKinetic);
diff --git a/notes/2.13.md b/notes/2.13.md
index dd3ca649a1..288d980b76 100644
--- a/notes/2.13.md
+++ b/notes/2.13.md
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@ The `moveDelay` is the replacement for the `tileLoadingDelay` layer config optio
 
 In general, when targeting mobile devices or when using slow servers or connections for tiled layers, it is recommended to configure the map with a TileManager.
 
+## Control.DragPan: Kinetic by default
+
+The `enableKinetic` property for the DragPan control has been changed to true by default.  This will enable kinetic panning only if the `OpenLayers/Kinetic.js` file is included in your build.
+
 ## window.$ is no longer an alias for OpenLayers.Util.getElement
  
 We do no longer create a global variable '$' when such a symbol isn't already