diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers.py b/mesonbuild/compilers.py
index 1fc936a11..5a0661c23 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers.py
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ msvc_winlibs = ['kernel32.lib', 'user32.lib', 'gdi32.lib',
 
 
 base_options = {
-                'b_pch': coredata.UserBooleanOption('b_pch', 'Use precompiled headers', False),
+                'b_pch': coredata.UserBooleanOption('b_pch', 'Use precompiled headers', True),
                 'b_lto': coredata.UserBooleanOption('b_lto', 'Use link time optimization', False),
                 'b_sanitize': coredata.UserComboOption('b_sanitize',
                                                        'Code sanitizer to use',
diff --git a/mesonbuild/coredata.py b/mesonbuild/coredata.py
index 8227340fd..837681c3e 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/coredata.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/coredata.py
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ class UserBooleanOption(UserOption):
             return True
         raise MesonException('Value "%s" for boolean option "%s" is not a boolean.' % (valuestring, self.name))
 
+    def __bool__(self):
+        return self.value
+
 class UserComboOption(UserOption):
     def __init__(self, name, description, choices, value):
         super().__init__(name, description, choices)