diff --git a/pandas/core/config_init.py b/pandas/core/config_init.py
index a8b63f97141c2..050bce873d31a 100644
--- a/pandas/core/config_init.py
+++ b/pandas/core/config_init.py
@@ -476,9 +476,7 @@ def use_inf_as_na_cb(key) -> None:
         "copy_on_write",
         # Get the default from an environment variable, if set, otherwise defaults
         # to False. This environment variable can be set for testing.
-        "warn"
-        if os.environ.get("PANDAS_COPY_ON_WRITE", "0") == "warn"
-        else os.environ.get("PANDAS_COPY_ON_WRITE", "0") == "1",
+        True,
         copy_on_write_doc,
         validator=is_one_of_factory([True, False, "warn"]),
     )