diff --git a/Commons/Settings.qml b/Commons/Settings.qml
index c263a418..b85c5f6c 100644
--- a/Commons/Settings.qml
+++ b/Commons/Settings.qml
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ Singleton {
   readonly property alias data: adapter
   property bool isLoaded: false
   property bool directoriesCreated: false
-  property int settingsVersion: 17
+  property int settingsVersion: 18
   property bool isDebug: Quickshell.env("NOCTALIA_DEBUG") === "1"
 
   // Define our app directories
@@ -526,6 +526,18 @@ Singleton {
       return
     }
 
+    // TEMP - disable Open panels on overlay which used to be true by default.
+    if (adapter.settingsVersion < 18) {
+      try {
+        if (adapter.ui.panelsOverlayLayer) {
+          adapter.ui.panelsOverlayLayer = false
+          Logger.i("Settings", "Upgraded panelsOverlayLayer to false by default")
+        }
+      } catch (e) {
+
+      }
+    }
+
     const sections = ["left", "center", "right"]
 
     // -----------------