diff --git a/gopls/doc/settings.md b/gopls/doc/settings.md
index 8b0ec839e2..2788ad81b8 100644
--- a/gopls/doc/settings.md
+++ b/gopls/doc/settings.md
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ Include only project_a: `-` (exclude everything), `+project_a`
 
 Include only project_a, but not node_modules inside it: `-`, `+project_a`, `-project_a/node_modules`
 
-Default: `[]`.
+Default: `["-node_modules"]`.
 
 #### **memoryMode** *enum*
 
diff --git a/internal/lsp/source/api_json.go b/internal/lsp/source/api_json.go
index c7522201a9..a5dcb4ded9 100755
--- a/internal/lsp/source/api_json.go
+++ b/internal/lsp/source/api_json.go
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ var GeneratedAPIJSON = &APIJSON{
 					Keys:      nil,
 				},
 				EnumValues: nil,
-				Default:    "[]",
+				Default:    "[\"-node_modules\"]",
 				Status:     "",
 				Hierarchy:  "build",
 			},
diff --git a/internal/lsp/source/options.go b/internal/lsp/source/options.go
index 5175507dc3..6e75056c7e 100644
--- a/internal/lsp/source/options.go
+++ b/internal/lsp/source/options.go
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ func DefaultOptions() *Options {
 					ExpandWorkspaceToModule:     true,
 					ExperimentalPackageCacheKey: true,
 					MemoryMode:                  ModeNormal,
+					DirectoryFilters:            []string{"-node_modules"},
 				},
 				UIOptions: UIOptions{
 					DiagnosticOptions: DiagnosticOptions{