diff --git a/package.nw/lib/defaults.js b/package.nw/lib/defaults.js
index 1897dc6a..58077ae6 100644
--- a/package.nw/lib/defaults.js
+++ b/package.nw/lib/defaults.js
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ var def_msgSettings = {
   msgAlertWord: "New chat message",
   msgAlertMedia: "none",
   msgFrequencySelect: 0,
-  msgActionSelect: 0,
+  msgActionSelect: 1,
   msgAwaySelect: 0,
   msgAwayText: "I am away from the shack at the moment"
 };
diff --git a/package.nw/lib/gt.js b/package.nw/lib/gt.js
index 0bcac9fc..af94ddc2 100644
--- a/package.nw/lib/gt.js
+++ b/package.nw/lib/gt.js
@@ -117,6 +117,14 @@ function loadAllSettings()
     def_adifLogSettings
   );
   g_msgSettings = loadDefaultsAndMerge("msgSettings", def_msgSettings);
+  // one-time override of oams pop-up messages: if pop-ups disabled
+  // and new version, reset msgActionSelect to 1 (pop up)
+  if (g_msgSettings.msgActionSelect == 0 &&
+      String(gtVersion) != String(g_startVersion))
+  {
+    g_msgSettings.msgActionSelect = 1;
+    localStorage.msgSettings = JSON.stringify(g_msgSettings);
+  }
   g_receptionSettings = loadDefaultsAndMerge(
     "receptionSettings",
     def_receptionSettings