diff --git a/packages/validator/src/validator.ts b/packages/validator/src/validator.ts
index 9cd5fda4ff3..68ae2135b56 100644
--- a/packages/validator/src/validator.ts
+++ b/packages/validator/src/validator.ts
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ export class Validator {
     await assertEqualGenesis(opts, genesis);
     logger.info("Verified connected beacon node and validator have the same genesisValidatorRoot");
 
-    const {useProduceBlockV3, valProposerConfig} = opts;
+    const {useProduceBlockV3 = defaultOptions.useProduceBlockV3, valProposerConfig} = opts;
     const defaultBuilderSelection =
       valProposerConfig?.defaultConfig.builder?.selection ?? defaultOptions.builderSelection;
     const strictFeeRecipientCheck = valProposerConfig?.defaultConfig.strictFeeRecipientCheck ?? false;