diff --git a/lib/msf/core/feature_manager.rb b/lib/msf/core/feature_manager.rb
index 6fb3349699..f95049571c 100644
--- a/lib/msf/core/feature_manager.rb
+++ b/lib/msf/core/feature_manager.rb
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ module Msf
         name: METASPLOIT_PAYLOAD_WARNINGS,
         description: 'When enabled Metasploit will output warnings about missing Metasploit payloads, for instance if they were removed by antivirus etc',
         requires_restart: true,
-        default_value: false,
+        default_value: true,
         developer_notes: 'Planned for default enablement in: Metasploit 6.4.x'
       }.freeze,
       {
diff --git a/lib/msf/ui/console/driver.rb b/lib/msf/ui/console/driver.rb
index 8586b4ea8a..fa392f3483 100644
--- a/lib/msf/ui/console/driver.rb
+++ b/lib/msf/ui/console/driver.rb
@@ -377,7 +377,13 @@ class Driver < Msf::Ui::Driver
 
     run_single("banner") unless opts['DisableBanner']
 
-    payloads_manifest_errors = framework.features.enabled?(::Msf::FeatureManager::METASPLOIT_PAYLOAD_WARNINGS) ? ::MetasploitPayloads.manifest_errors : []
+    payloads_manifest_errors = []
+    begin
+      payloads_manifest_errors = ::MetasploitPayloads.manifest_errors if framework.features.enabled?(::Msf::FeatureManager::METASPLOIT_PAYLOAD_WARNINGS)
+    rescue ::StandardError => e
+      $stderr.print('Could not verify the integrity of the Metasploit Payloads manifest')
+      elog(e)
+    end
 
     av_warning_message if (framework.eicar_corrupted? || payloads_manifest_errors.any?)