diff --git a/server/src/agents/pool.rs b/server/src/agents/pool.rs
index db7ce43..b13c8cc 100644
--- a/server/src/agents/pool.rs
+++ b/server/src/agents/pool.rs
@@ -895,7 +895,7 @@ impl AgentPool {
                             if item_type == "spike" {
                                 true // Spikes always need human review.
                             } else {
-                                // Stories/bugs: check the manual_qa front matter field (defaults to true).
+                                // Stories/bugs: check the manual_qa front matter field (defaults to false).
                                 let qa_dir = project_root.join(".story_kit/work/3_qa");
                                 let story_path = qa_dir.join(format!("{story_id}.md"));
                                 crate::io::story_metadata::requires_manual_qa(&story_path)
diff --git a/server/src/io/story_metadata.rs b/server/src/io/story_metadata.rs
index 51e7f9c..23129ae 100644
--- a/server/src/io/story_metadata.rs
+++ b/server/src/io/story_metadata.rs
@@ -210,15 +210,15 @@ pub fn write_rejection_notes(path: &Path, notes: &str) -> Result<(), String> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
-/// Check whether a story requires manual QA (defaults to true).
+/// Check whether a story requires manual QA (defaults to false).
 pub fn requires_manual_qa(path: &Path) -> bool {
     let contents = match fs::read_to_string(path) {
         Ok(c) => c,
-        Err(_) => return true,
+        Err(_) => return false,
     };
     match parse_front_matter(&contents) {
-        Ok(meta) => meta.manual_qa.unwrap_or(true),
-        Err(_) => true,
+        Ok(meta) => meta.manual_qa.unwrap_or(false),
+        Err(_) => false,
     }
 }
 
@@ -412,10 +412,18 @@ workflow: tdd
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn requires_manual_qa_defaults_true() {
+    fn requires_manual_qa_defaults_false() {
         let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
         let path = tmp.path().join("story.md");
         std::fs::write(&path, "---\nname: Test\n---\n# Story\n").unwrap();
+        assert!(!requires_manual_qa(&path));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn requires_manual_qa_true_when_set() {
+        let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let path = tmp.path().join("story.md");
+        std::fs::write(&path, "---\nname: Test\nmanual_qa: true\n---\n# Story\n").unwrap();
         assert!(requires_manual_qa(&path));
     }