diff --git a/builtin/providers/postgresql/resource_postgresql_role.go b/builtin/providers/postgresql/resource_postgresql_role.go
index 0c3811108..cf74d6c78 100644
--- a/builtin/providers/postgresql/resource_postgresql_role.go
+++ b/builtin/providers/postgresql/resource_postgresql_role.go
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@ package postgresql
 
 import (
 	"database/sql"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"log"
-	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/hashicorp/errwrap"
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ func resourcePostgreSQLRole() *schema.Resource {
 			roleInheritAttr: {
 				Type:        schema.TypeBool,
 				Optional:    true,
-				Default:     false,
+				Default:     true,
 				Description: `Determine whether a role "inherits" the privileges of roles it is a member of`,
 			},
 			roleLoginAttr: {
diff --git a/website/source/docs/providers/postgresql/r/postgresql_role.html.markdown b/website/source/docs/providers/postgresql/r/postgresql_role.html.markdown
index e2818dc80..cc36790e6 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/providers/postgresql/r/postgresql_role.html.markdown
+++ b/website/source/docs/providers/postgresql/r/postgresql_role.html.markdown
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ resource "postgresql_role" "my_replication_role" {
   is `false`.
 
 * `inherit` - (Optional) Defines whether a role "inherits" the privileges of
-  roles it is a member of.  Default value is `false`.
+  roles it is a member of.  Default value is `true`.
 
 * `login` - (Optional) Defines whether role is allowed to log in.  Roles without
   this attribute are useful for managing database privileges, but are not users