diff --git a/src/hotspot/share/compiler/compilerDirectives.cpp b/src/hotspot/share/compiler/compilerDirectives.cpp
index b48eb4fb817..74259c8e5d4 100644
--- a/src/hotspot/share/compiler/compilerDirectives.cpp
+++ b/src/hotspot/share/compiler/compilerDirectives.cpp
@@ -761,7 +761,7 @@ DirectiveSet* DirectivesStack::getMatchingDirective(const methodHandle& method,
       if (dir->is_default_directive() || dir->match(method)) {
         match = dir->get_for(comp);
         assert(match != nullptr, "Consistency");
-        if (match->EnableOption) {
+        if (match->EnableOption || dir->is_default_directive()) {
           // The directiveSet for this compile is also enabled -> success
           dir->inc_refcount();
           break;