diff --git a/viewer/JFJochViewerSidePanel.cpp b/viewer/JFJochViewerSidePanel.cpp
index e4b7a3e1..40677d48 100644
--- a/viewer/JFJochViewerSidePanel.cpp
+++ b/viewer/JFJochViewerSidePanel.cpp
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ JFJochViewerSidePanel::JFJochViewerSidePanel(QWidget *parent) : QWidget(parent)
     layout->addWidget(new TitleLabel("Image features", this));
 
     auto spotToggleCheckBox = new QCheckBox("Show spots", this);
-    spotToggleCheckBox->setCheckState(Qt::CheckState::Checked);
+    spotToggleCheckBox->setCheckState(Qt::CheckState::Unchecked);
 
     connect(spotToggleCheckBox, &QCheckBox::toggled, this, &JFJochViewerSidePanel::spotsToggled);
 
diff --git a/viewer/image_viewer/JFJochDiffractionImage.h b/viewer/image_viewer/JFJochDiffractionImage.h
index 7460e747..c792f06f 100644
--- a/viewer/image_viewer/JFJochDiffractionImage.h
+++ b/viewer/image_viewer/JFJochDiffractionImage.h
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ private:
 
     RingMode ring_mode = RingMode::Manual;
 
-    bool show_spots = true;
+    bool show_spots = false;
     bool show_predictions = false;
 
     bool highlight_ice_rings = true;