diff --git a/Configuration/DataProcessing/python/Merge.py b/Configuration/DataProcessing/python/Merge.py
index 4dc9b8af57609..6a274e68c330c 100644
--- a/Configuration/DataProcessing/python/Merge.py
+++ b/Configuration/DataProcessing/python/Merge.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ def mergeProcess(*inputFiles, **options):
     dropDQM = options.get("drop_dqm", False)
     newDQMIO = options.get("newDQMIO", False)
     mergeNANO = options.get("mergeNANO", False)
-    bypassVersionCheck = options.get("bypassVersionCheck", False)
+    bypassVersionCheck = options.get("bypassVersionCheck", True)
     #  //
     # // build process
     #//
diff --git a/Configuration/DataProcessing/test/RunMerge.py b/Configuration/DataProcessing/test/RunMerge.py
index 3ef6f7473fb46..fb8228d3b1a04 100644
--- a/Configuration/DataProcessing/test/RunMerge.py
+++ b/Configuration/DataProcessing/test/RunMerge.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         self.inputFiles = []
         self.newDQMIO = False
         self.mergeNANO = False
-        self.bypassVersionCheck = False
+        self.bypassVersionCheck = True
         
 
     def __call__(self):