diff --git a/src/or/or.h b/src/or/or.h
index fee368eef0..6ed77e3ea4 100644
--- a/src/or/or.h
+++ b/src/or/or.h
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@
 #define RELAY_STATE_RESOLVING
 
 /* default cipher function */
-#define DEFAULT_CIPHER CRYPTO_CIPHER_3DES
+#define DEFAULT_CIPHER CRYPTO_CIPHER_AES_CTR
 
 #define CELL_DIRECTION_IN 1
 #define CELL_DIRECTION_OUT 2