diff --git a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/formatter/DefaultCodeFormatterOptions.java b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/formatter/DefaultCodeFormatterOptions.java
index 2c7a5d8cc58..0b5cba9d4e7 100644
--- a/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/formatter/DefaultCodeFormatterOptions.java
+++ b/core/org.eclipse.cdt.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/internal/formatter/DefaultCodeFormatterOptions.java
@@ -1766,7 +1766,7 @@ public class DefaultCodeFormatterOptions {
 //		this.insert_new_line_in_empty_method_body = true;
 //		this.insert_new_line_in_empty_type_declaration = true;
 
-		this.compact_else_if = false;
+		this.compact_else_if = true;
 		this.keep_guardian_clause_on_one_line = false;
 		this.keep_else_statement_on_same_line = false;
 		this.keep_empty_initializer_list_on_one_line = false;