diff --git a/app/tools/gimpvectortool.c b/app/tools/gimpvectortool.c
index 55e5bd7978..9799b9b4a8 100644
--- a/app/tools/gimpvectortool.c
+++ b/app/tools/gimpvectortool.c
@@ -219,6 +219,8 @@ gimp_vector_tool_init (GimpVectorTool *vector_tool)
   vector_tool->sel_stroke     = NULL;
 
   vector_tool->saved_mode     = GIMP_VECTOR_MODE_DESIGN;
+
+  GIMP_DRAW_TOOL (tool)->use_cairo = TRUE;
 }