diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/defaultConfig.ts b/packages/mermaid/src/defaultConfig.ts
index 97f3e0bb1..aa6aa0608 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/defaultConfig.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/defaultConfig.ts
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ const config: RequiredDeep<MermaidConfig> = {
   // TODO: Should we replace these with `null` so that they can go in the JSON Schema?
   deterministicIDSeed: undefined,
   elk: {
+    // mergeEdges is needed here to be considered
     mergeEdges: false,
-    nodePlacementStrategy: 'SIMPLE',
   },
   themeCSS: undefined,