diff --git a/cmd/gossamer/config.go b/cmd/gossamer/config.go
index ab516ff895..7f79f942a0 100644
--- a/cmd/gossamer/config.go
+++ b/cmd/gossamer/config.go
@@ -568,7 +568,11 @@ func setDotCoreConfig(ctx *cli.Context, tomlCfg ctoml.CoreConfig, cfg *dot.CoreC
 	cfg.BabeAuthority = tomlCfg.Roles == types.AuthorityRole
 	cfg.GrandpaAuthority = tomlCfg.Roles == types.AuthorityRole
 	cfg.GrandpaInterval = time.Second * time.Duration(tomlCfg.GrandpaInterval)
-	cfg.BABELead = ctx.GlobalBool(BABELeadFlag.Name)
+
+	cfg.BABELead = tomlCfg.BABELead
+	if ctx.IsSet(BABELeadFlag.Name) {
+		cfg.BABELead = ctx.GlobalBool(BABELeadFlag.Name)
+	}
 
 	// check --roles flag and update node configuration
 	if roles := ctx.GlobalString(RolesFlag.Name); roles != "" {
diff --git a/dot/config.go b/dot/config.go
index 9126c25971..cb2a600397 100644
--- a/dot/config.go
+++ b/dot/config.go
@@ -333,6 +333,7 @@ func DevConfig() *Config {
 			BabeAuthority:    dev.DefaultBabeAuthority,
 			GrandpaAuthority: dev.DefaultGrandpaAuthority,
 			WasmInterpreter:  dev.DefaultWasmInterpreter,
+			BABELead:         dev.DefaultBabeAuthority,
 		},
 		Network: NetworkConfig{
 			Port:        dev.DefaultNetworkPort,