diff --git a/builtin/settingtypes.txt b/builtin/settingtypes.txt
index b43c938ae..8dc37c3e7 100644
--- a/builtin/settingtypes.txt
+++ b/builtin/settingtypes.txt
@@ -265,8 +265,8 @@ undersampling (Undersampling) int 1 1 8
 
 [**Graphics Effects]
 
-#    Makes all liquids opaque
-opaque_water (Opaque liquids) bool false
+#    Allows liquids to be translucent.
+translucent_liquids (Translucent liquids) bool true
 
 #    Leaves style:
 #    -   Fancy:  all faces visible
diff --git a/src/defaultsettings.cpp b/src/defaultsettings.cpp
index 6c0d4b4cc..378d09759 100644
--- a/src/defaultsettings.cpp
+++ b/src/defaultsettings.cpp
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ void set_default_settings()
 	settings->setDefault("enable_3d_clouds", "true");
 	settings->setDefault("cloud_radius", "12");
 	settings->setDefault("menu_clouds", "true");
-	settings->setDefault("opaque_water", "false");
+	settings->setDefault("translucent_liquids", "true");
 	settings->setDefault("console_height", "0.6");
 	settings->setDefault("console_color", "(0,0,0)");
 	settings->setDefault("console_alpha", "200");
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index d693a6b5c..7f078d9b2 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 #include "filesys.h"
 #include "version.h"
 #include "defaultsettings.h"
+#include "migratesettings.h"
 #include "gettext.h"
 #include "log.h"
 #include "util/quicktune.h"
@@ -687,6 +688,8 @@ static bool init_common(const Settings &cmd_args, int argc, char *argv[])
 	if (!read_config_file(cmd_args))
 		return false;
 
+	migrate_settings();
+
 	init_log_streams(cmd_args);
 
 	// Initialize random seed
diff --git a/src/migratesettings.h b/src/migratesettings.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..60435f18a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/migratesettings.h
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+// Minetest
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-or-later
+
+#include "settings.h"
+
+void migrate_settings()
+{
+	// Converts opaque_water to translucent_liquids
+	if (g_settings->existsLocal("opaque_water")) {
+		g_settings->set("translucent_liquids",
+				g_settings->getBool("opaque_water") ? "false" : "true");
+		g_settings->remove("opaque_water");
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/nodedef.cpp b/src/nodedef.cpp
index 1ce0a5c74..2914cc3aa 100644
--- a/src/nodedef.cpp
+++ b/src/nodedef.cpp
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ void TileDef::deSerialize(std::istream &is, NodeDrawType drawtype, u16 protocol_
 void TextureSettings::readSettings()
 {
 	connected_glass                = g_settings->getBool("connected_glass");
-	opaque_water                   = g_settings->getBool("opaque_water");
+	translucent_liquids            = g_settings->getBool("translucent_liquids");
 	bool smooth_lighting           = g_settings->getBool("smooth_lighting");
 	enable_mesh_cache              = g_settings->getBool("enable_mesh_cache");
 	enable_minimap                 = g_settings->getBool("enable_minimap");
@@ -683,7 +683,7 @@ void ContentFeatures::deSerialize(std::istream &is, u16 protocol_version)
 		if (is.eof())
 			throw SerializationError("");
 		post_effect_color_shaded = tmp;
-	} catch(SerializationError &e) {};
+	} catch (SerializationError &e) {};
 }
 
 #ifndef SERVER
@@ -825,14 +825,14 @@ void ContentFeatures::updateTextures(ITextureSource *tsrc, IShaderSource *shdsrc
 		solidness = 0;
 		break;
 	case NDT_LIQUID:
-		if (tsettings.opaque_water)
+		if (!tsettings.translucent_liquids)
 			alpha = ALPHAMODE_OPAQUE;
 		solidness = 1;
 		is_liquid = true;
 		break;
 	case NDT_FLOWINGLIQUID:
 		solidness = 0;
-		if (tsettings.opaque_water)
+		if (!tsettings.translucent_liquids)
 			alpha = ALPHAMODE_OPAQUE;
 		is_liquid = true;
 		break;
diff --git a/src/nodedef.h b/src/nodedef.h
index f493d48c4..de713a1ad 100644
--- a/src/nodedef.h
+++ b/src/nodedef.h
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ public:
 	WorldAlignMode world_aligned_mode;
 	AutoScale autoscale_mode;
 	int node_texture_size;
-	bool opaque_water;
+	bool translucent_liquids;
 	bool connected_glass;
 	bool enable_mesh_cache;
 	bool enable_minimap;