diff --git a/mypy/main.py b/mypy/main.py
index e859e4fed42a..1074a9ac70d8 100644
--- a/mypy/main.py
+++ b/mypy/main.py
@@ -975,9 +975,9 @@ def add_invertible_flag(
         help="Use a custom typing module",
     )
     internals_group.add_argument(
-        "--enable-recursive-aliases",
+        "--disable-recursive-aliases",
         action="store_true",
-        help="Experimental support for recursive type aliases",
+        help="Disable experimental support for recursive type aliases",
     )
     internals_group.add_argument(
         "--custom-typeshed-dir", metavar="DIR", help="Use the custom typeshed in DIR"
diff --git a/mypy/options.py b/mypy/options.py
index 379ce1a7441f..76df064842f2 100644
--- a/mypy/options.py
+++ b/mypy/options.py
@@ -312,8 +312,8 @@ def __init__(self) -> None:
         # skip most errors after this many messages have been reported.
         # -1 means unlimited.
         self.many_errors_threshold = defaults.MANY_ERRORS_THRESHOLD
-        # Enable recursive type aliases (currently experimental)
-        self.enable_recursive_aliases = False
+        # Disable recursive type aliases (currently experimental)
+        self.disable_recursive_aliases = False
 
     # To avoid breaking plugin compatibility, keep providing new_semantic_analyzer
     @property
diff --git a/mypy/semanal.py b/mypy/semanal.py
index ec7b6b857efd..5a1787c50650 100644
--- a/mypy/semanal.py
+++ b/mypy/semanal.py
@@ -3238,7 +3238,7 @@ def check_and_set_up_type_alias(self, s: AssignmentStmt) -> bool:
             )
             if not res:
                 return False
-            if self.options.enable_recursive_aliases and not self.is_func_scope():
+            if not self.options.disable_recursive_aliases and not self.is_func_scope():
                 # Only marking incomplete for top-level placeholders makes recursive aliases like
                 # `A = Sequence[str | A]` valid here, similar to how we treat base classes in class
                 # definitions, allowing `class str(Sequence[str]): ...`
@@ -5749,7 +5749,7 @@ def process_placeholder(self, name: str, kind: str, ctx: Context) -> None:
 
     def cannot_resolve_name(self, name: str, kind: str, ctx: Context) -> None:
         self.fail(f'Cannot resolve {kind} "{name}" (possible cyclic definition)', ctx)
-        if self.options.enable_recursive_aliases and self.is_func_scope():
+        if not self.options.disable_recursive_aliases and self.is_func_scope():
             self.note("Recursive types are not allowed at function scope", ctx)
 
     def qualified_name(self, name: str) -> str:
diff --git a/mypy/semanal_namedtuple.py b/mypy/semanal_namedtuple.py
index 6cb42d6c3ede..1727c18b6fd9 100644
--- a/mypy/semanal_namedtuple.py
+++ b/mypy/semanal_namedtuple.py
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ def check_namedtuple_classdef(
                     # it would be inconsistent with type aliases.
                     analyzed = self.api.anal_type(
                         stmt.type,
-                        allow_placeholder=self.options.enable_recursive_aliases
+                        allow_placeholder=not self.options.disable_recursive_aliases
                         and not self.api.is_func_scope(),
                     )
                     if analyzed is None:
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ def parse_namedtuple_fields_with_types(
                 # We never allow recursive types at function scope.
                 analyzed = self.api.anal_type(
                     type,
-                    allow_placeholder=self.options.enable_recursive_aliases
+                    allow_placeholder=not self.options.disable_recursive_aliases
                     and not self.api.is_func_scope(),
                 )
                 # Workaround #4987 and avoid introducing a bogus UnboundType
diff --git a/mypy/semanal_newtype.py b/mypy/semanal_newtype.py
index b571ed538e09..b6fb64532e6e 100644
--- a/mypy/semanal_newtype.py
+++ b/mypy/semanal_newtype.py
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ def check_newtype_args(
             self.api.anal_type(
                 unanalyzed_type,
                 report_invalid_types=False,
-                allow_placeholder=self.options.enable_recursive_aliases
+                allow_placeholder=not self.options.disable_recursive_aliases
                 and not self.api.is_func_scope(),
             )
         )
diff --git a/mypy/semanal_typeddict.py b/mypy/semanal_typeddict.py
index 0b5b1a37a7cf..fd6b1bbd2bbf 100644
--- a/mypy/semanal_typeddict.py
+++ b/mypy/semanal_typeddict.py
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ def analyze_base_args(self, base: IndexExpr, ctx: Context) -> list[Type] | None:
             analyzed = self.api.anal_type(
                 type,
                 allow_required=True,
-                allow_placeholder=self.options.enable_recursive_aliases
+                allow_placeholder=not self.options.disable_recursive_aliases
                 and not self.api.is_func_scope(),
             )
             if analyzed is None:
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ def analyze_typeddict_classdef_fields(
                     analyzed = self.api.anal_type(
                         stmt.type,
                         allow_required=True,
-                        allow_placeholder=self.options.enable_recursive_aliases
+                        allow_placeholder=not self.options.disable_recursive_aliases
                         and not self.api.is_func_scope(),
                     )
                     if analyzed is None:
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ def parse_typeddict_fields_with_types(
             analyzed = self.api.anal_type(
                 type,
                 allow_required=True,
-                allow_placeholder=self.options.enable_recursive_aliases
+                allow_placeholder=not self.options.disable_recursive_aliases
                 and not self.api.is_func_scope(),
             )
             if analyzed is None:
diff --git a/mypy/typeanal.py b/mypy/typeanal.py
index fc90b867acf4..2ed9523c410d 100644
--- a/mypy/typeanal.py
+++ b/mypy/typeanal.py
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ def cannot_resolve_type(self, t: UnboundType) -> None:
         #       need access to MessageBuilder here. Also move the similar
         #       message generation logic in semanal.py.
         self.api.fail(f'Cannot resolve name "{t.name}" (possible cyclic definition)', t)
-        if self.options.enable_recursive_aliases and self.api.is_func_scope():
+        if not self.options.disable_recursive_aliases and self.api.is_func_scope():
             self.note("Recursive types are not allowed at function scope", t)
 
     def apply_concatenate_operator(self, t: UnboundType) -> Type:
diff --git a/test-data/unit/check-classes.test b/test-data/unit/check-classes.test
index be0871ecc84f..ff38297ae488 100644
--- a/test-data/unit/check-classes.test
+++ b/test-data/unit/check-classes.test
@@ -4779,7 +4779,7 @@ class A(Tuple[int, str]): pass
 -- -----------------------
 
 [case testCrashOnSelfRecursiveNamedTupleVar]
-
+# flags: --disable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import NamedTuple
 
 N = NamedTuple('N', [('x', N)]) # E: Cannot resolve name "N" (possible cyclic definition)
@@ -4809,7 +4809,7 @@ lst = [n, m]
 [builtins fixtures/isinstancelist.pyi]
 
 [case testCorrectJoinOfSelfRecursiveTypedDicts]
-
+# flags: --disable-recursive-aliases
 from mypy_extensions import TypedDict
 
 class N(TypedDict):
diff --git a/test-data/unit/check-dataclasses.test b/test-data/unit/check-dataclasses.test
index 3f9fbb46a60b..4b2ff1af2151 100644
--- a/test-data/unit/check-dataclasses.test
+++ b/test-data/unit/check-dataclasses.test
@@ -1915,7 +1915,6 @@ takes_cp(MyDataclass)
 [builtins fixtures/dataclasses.pyi]
 
 [case testDataclassTypeAnnotationAliasUpdated]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 import a
 [file a.py]
 from dataclasses import dataclass
diff --git a/test-data/unit/check-incremental.test b/test-data/unit/check-incremental.test
index 7da379f0be01..ac005001b135 100644
--- a/test-data/unit/check-incremental.test
+++ b/test-data/unit/check-incremental.test
@@ -4600,7 +4600,7 @@ def outer() -> None:
 [out2]
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasImported]
-
+# flags: --disable-recursive-aliases
 import a
 
 [file a.py]
@@ -5759,7 +5759,7 @@ class C:
 [builtins fixtures/tuple.pyi]
 
 [case testNamedTupleUpdateNonRecursiveToRecursiveCoarse]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
+# flags: --strict-optional
 import c
 [file a.py]
 from b import M
@@ -5802,7 +5802,7 @@ tmp/c.py:5: error: Incompatible types in assignment (expression has type "Option
 tmp/c.py:7: note: Revealed type is "Tuple[Union[Tuple[Union[..., None], builtins.int, fallback=b.M], None], builtins.int, fallback=a.N]"
 
 [case testTupleTypeUpdateNonRecursiveToRecursiveCoarse]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
+# flags: --strict-optional
 import c
 [file a.py]
 from b import M
@@ -5835,7 +5835,7 @@ tmp/c.py:4: note: Revealed type is "Tuple[Union[Tuple[Union[..., None], builtins
 tmp/c.py:5: error: Incompatible types in assignment (expression has type "Optional[N]", variable has type "int")
 
 [case testTypeAliasUpdateNonRecursiveToRecursiveCoarse]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
+# flags: --strict-optional
 import c
 [file a.py]
 from b import M
@@ -5868,7 +5868,7 @@ tmp/c.py:4: note: Revealed type is "Tuple[Union[Tuple[Union[..., None], builtins
 tmp/c.py:5: error: Incompatible types in assignment (expression has type "Optional[N]", variable has type "int")
 
 [case testTypedDictUpdateNonRecursiveToRecursiveCoarse]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
+# flags: --strict-optional
 import c
 [file a.py]
 from b import M
diff --git a/test-data/unit/check-namedtuple.test b/test-data/unit/check-namedtuple.test
index 4552cfb118cc..438e17a6ba0a 100644
--- a/test-data/unit/check-namedtuple.test
+++ b/test-data/unit/check-namedtuple.test
@@ -617,7 +617,7 @@ tmp/b.py:4: note: Revealed type is "Tuple[Any, fallback=a.N]"
 tmp/b.py:7: note: Revealed type is "Tuple[Any, fallback=a.N]"
 
 [case testSimpleSelfReferentialNamedTuple]
-
+# flags: --disable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import NamedTuple
 class MyNamedTuple(NamedTuple):
     parent: 'MyNamedTuple' # E: Cannot resolve name "MyNamedTuple" (possible cyclic definition)
@@ -655,7 +655,7 @@ class B:
 [out]
 
 [case testSelfRefNT1]
-
+# flags: --disable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import Tuple, NamedTuple
 
 Node = NamedTuple('Node', [
@@ -667,7 +667,7 @@ reveal_type(n) # N: Revealed type is "Tuple[builtins.str, builtins.tuple[Any, ..
 [builtins fixtures/tuple.pyi]
 
 [case testSelfRefNT2]
-
+# flags: --disable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import Tuple, NamedTuple
 
 A = NamedTuple('A', [
@@ -683,7 +683,7 @@ reveal_type(n) # N: Revealed type is "Tuple[builtins.str, builtins.tuple[Any, ..
 [builtins fixtures/tuple.pyi]
 
 [case testSelfRefNT3]
-
+# flags: --disable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import NamedTuple, Tuple
 
 class B(NamedTuple):
@@ -703,7 +703,7 @@ reveal_type(lst[0]) # N: Revealed type is "Tuple[builtins.object, builtins.objec
 [builtins fixtures/tuple.pyi]
 
 [case testSelfRefNT4]
-
+# flags: --disable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import NamedTuple
 
 class B(NamedTuple):
@@ -719,7 +719,7 @@ reveal_type(n.y[0]) # N: Revealed type is "Any"
 [builtins fixtures/tuple.pyi]
 
 [case testSelfRefNT5]
-
+# flags: --disable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import NamedTuple
 
 B = NamedTuple('B', [
@@ -737,7 +737,7 @@ reveal_type(f) # N: Revealed type is "def (m: Tuple[Any, builtins.int, fallback=
 [builtins fixtures/tuple.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveNamedTupleInBases]
-
+# flags: --disable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import List, NamedTuple, Union
 
 Exp = Union['A', 'B']  # E: Cannot resolve name "Exp" (possible cyclic definition) \
@@ -781,7 +781,7 @@ tp = NamedTuple('tp', [('x', int)])
 [out]
 
 [case testSubclassOfRecursiveNamedTuple]
-
+# flags: --disable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import List, NamedTuple
 
 class Command(NamedTuple):
diff --git a/test-data/unit/check-newsemanal.test b/test-data/unit/check-newsemanal.test
index d784aadffd67..a52be03e31ce 100644
--- a/test-data/unit/check-newsemanal.test
+++ b/test-data/unit/check-newsemanal.test
@@ -434,6 +434,7 @@ def main() -> None:
             x  # E: Name "x" is not defined
 
 [case testNewAnalyzerCyclicDefinitions]
+# flags: --disable-recursive-aliases
 gx = gy  # E: Cannot resolve name "gy" (possible cyclic definition)
 gy = gx
 def main() -> None:
@@ -1499,6 +1500,7 @@ reveal_type(x[0][0])  # N: Revealed type is "__main__.C"
 [builtins fixtures/list.pyi]
 
 [case testNewAnalyzerAliasToNotReadyDirectBase]
+# flags: --disable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import List
 
 x: B
@@ -1509,11 +1511,11 @@ reveal_type(x)
 reveal_type(x[0][0])
 [builtins fixtures/list.pyi]
 [out]
-main:3: error: Cannot resolve name "B" (possible cyclic definition)
 main:4: error: Cannot resolve name "B" (possible cyclic definition)
-main:4: error: Cannot resolve name "C" (possible cyclic definition)
-main:7: note: Revealed type is "Any"
+main:5: error: Cannot resolve name "B" (possible cyclic definition)
+main:5: error: Cannot resolve name "C" (possible cyclic definition)
 main:8: note: Revealed type is "Any"
+main:9: note: Revealed type is "Any"
 
 [case testNewAnalyzerAliasToNotReadyTwoDeferralsFunction]
 import a
@@ -1532,6 +1534,7 @@ reveal_type(f)  # N: Revealed type is "def (x: builtins.list[a.C]) -> builtins.l
 [builtins fixtures/list.pyi]
 
 [case testNewAnalyzerAliasToNotReadyDirectBaseFunction]
+# flags: --disable-recursive-aliases
 import a
 [file a.py]
 from typing import List
@@ -2119,6 +2122,7 @@ class B(List[C]):
 [builtins fixtures/list.pyi]
 
 [case testNewAnalyzerNewTypeForwardClassAliasDirect]
+# flags: --disable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import NewType, List
 
 x: D
@@ -2131,12 +2135,12 @@ class B(D):
     pass
 [builtins fixtures/list.pyi]
 [out]
-main:3: error: Cannot resolve name "D" (possible cyclic definition)
-main:4: note: Revealed type is "Any"
-main:6: error: Cannot resolve name "D" (possible cyclic definition)
-main:6: error: Cannot resolve name "C" (possible cyclic definition)
-main:7: error: Argument 2 to NewType(...) must be a valid type
-main:7: error: Cannot resolve name "B" (possible cyclic definition)
+main:4: error: Cannot resolve name "D" (possible cyclic definition)
+main:5: note: Revealed type is "Any"
+main:7: error: Cannot resolve name "D" (possible cyclic definition)
+main:7: error: Cannot resolve name "C" (possible cyclic definition)
+main:8: error: Argument 2 to NewType(...) must be a valid type
+main:8: error: Cannot resolve name "B" (possible cyclic definition)
 
 -- Copied from check-classes.test (tricky corner cases).
 [case testNewAnalyzerNoCrashForwardRefToBrokenDoubleNewTypeClass]
@@ -2153,6 +2157,7 @@ class C:
 [builtins fixtures/dict.pyi]
 
 [case testNewAnalyzerForwardTypeAliasInBase]
+# flags: --disable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import List, Generic, TypeVar, NamedTuple
 T = TypeVar('T')
 
@@ -2593,6 +2598,7 @@ import n
 def __getattr__(x): pass
 
 [case testNewAnalyzerReportLoopInMRO2]
+# flags: --disable-recursive-aliases
 def f() -> None:
     class A(A): ... # E: Cannot resolve name "A" (possible cyclic definition)
 
diff --git a/test-data/unit/check-recursive-types.test b/test-data/unit/check-recursive-types.test
index 8a491e208c44..cbbc6d7005ef 100644
--- a/test-data/unit/check-recursive-types.test
+++ b/test-data/unit/check-recursive-types.test
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 -- Tests checking that basic functionality works
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasBasic]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import Dict, List, Union, TypeVar, Sequence
 
 JSON = Union[str, List[JSON], Dict[str, JSON]]
@@ -17,7 +16,6 @@ x = ["foo", {"bar": [Bad()]}]  # E: List item 0 has incompatible type "Bad"; exp
 [builtins fixtures/isinstancelist.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasBasicGenericSubtype]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import Union, TypeVar, Sequence, List
 
 T = TypeVar("T")
@@ -37,7 +35,6 @@ xx = yy  # OK
 [builtins fixtures/isinstancelist.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasBasicGenericInference]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import Union, TypeVar, Sequence, List
 
 T = TypeVar("T")
@@ -61,7 +58,6 @@ x = [1, [Bad()]]  # E: List item 0 has incompatible type "Bad"; expected "Union[
 [builtins fixtures/isinstancelist.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasGenericInferenceNested]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import Union, TypeVar, Sequence, List
 
 T = TypeVar("T")
@@ -77,7 +73,6 @@ reveal_type(flatten([[B(), [[B()]]]]))  # N: Revealed type is "builtins.list[__m
 [builtins fixtures/isinstancelist.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasNewStyleSupported]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from test import A
 
 x: A
@@ -93,7 +88,6 @@ A = int | list[A]
 -- Tests duplicating some existing type alias tests with recursive aliases enabled
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasesMutual]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import Type, Callable, Union
 
 A = Union[B, int]
@@ -103,7 +97,6 @@ x: A
 reveal_type(x)  # N: Revealed type is "Union[def (Union[Type[def (...) -> builtins.int], Type[builtins.int]]) -> builtins.int, builtins.int]"
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasesProhibited-skip]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import Type, Callable, Union
 
 A = Union[B, int]
@@ -111,7 +104,6 @@ B = Union[A, int]
 C = Type[C]
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasImported]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 import lib
 x: lib.A
 reveal_type(x)  # N: Revealed type is "builtins.list[builtins.list[...]]"
@@ -128,7 +120,6 @@ B = List[A]
 [builtins fixtures/list.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasViaBaseClass]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import List
 
 x: B
@@ -140,7 +131,6 @@ reveal_type(x[0][0])  # N: Revealed type is "__main__.C"
 [builtins fixtures/list.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasViaBaseClass2]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import NewType, List
 
 x: D
@@ -154,7 +144,6 @@ class B(D):
 [builtins fixtures/list.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasViaBaseClass3]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import List, Generic, TypeVar, NamedTuple
 T = TypeVar('T')
 
@@ -173,7 +162,6 @@ reveal_type(x)  # N: Revealed type is "__main__.G[Tuple[builtins.int, fallback=_
 [builtins fixtures/list.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasViaBaseClassImported]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 import a
 [file a.py]
 from typing import List
@@ -190,7 +178,6 @@ reveal_type(f)  # N: Revealed type is "def (x: builtins.list[a.C]) -> builtins.l
 [builtins fixtures/list.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasViaNamedTuple]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import List, NamedTuple, Union
 
 Exp = Union['A', 'B']
@@ -210,7 +197,6 @@ my_eval(A([B(1), B(2)]))
 [builtins fixtures/isinstancelist.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasesSimplifiedUnion]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import Sequence, TypeVar, Union
 
 class A: ...
@@ -231,7 +217,6 @@ x = y  # E: Incompatible types in assignment (expression has type "Sequence[Unio
 [builtins fixtures/isinstancelist.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasesJoins]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import Sequence, TypeVar, Union
 
 class A: ...
@@ -257,7 +242,6 @@ x = y3  # E: Incompatible types in assignment (expression has type "Sequence[Uni
 [builtins fixtures/isinstancelist.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasesRestrictions]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import Sequence, Mapping, Union
 
 A = Sequence[Union[int, A]]
@@ -272,7 +256,6 @@ else:
 [builtins fixtures/isinstancelist.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasesRestrictions2]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import Sequence, Union
 
 class A: ...
@@ -296,7 +279,6 @@ if isinstance(b[0], Sequence):
 [builtins fixtures/isinstancelist.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasWithRecursiveInstance]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import Sequence, Union, TypeVar
 
 class A: ...
@@ -317,7 +299,6 @@ reveal_type(join(b, a))  # N: Revealed type is "typing.Sequence[Union[__main__.A
 [builtins fixtures/isinstancelist.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasWithRecursiveInstanceInference]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import Sequence, Union, TypeVar, List
 
 T = TypeVar("T")
@@ -338,7 +319,6 @@ reveal_type(bar(nib))  # N: Revealed type is "__main__.B"
 [builtins fixtures/isinstancelist.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasTopUnion]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import Sequence, Union, TypeVar, List
 
 class A: ...
@@ -363,7 +343,6 @@ reveal_type(foo(xx))  # N: Revealed type is "__main__.B"
 [builtins fixtures/isinstancelist.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasInferenceExplicitNonRecursive]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import Sequence, Union, TypeVar, List
 
 T = TypeVar("T")
@@ -390,7 +369,6 @@ reveal_type(bar(llla))  # N: Revealed type is "__main__.A"
 [builtins fixtures/isinstancelist.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasesWithOptional]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import Optional, Sequence
 
 A = Sequence[Optional[A]]
@@ -398,7 +376,6 @@ x: A
 y: str = x[0]  # E: Incompatible types in assignment (expression has type "Optional[A]", variable has type "str")
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasesProhibitBadAliases]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import Union, Type, List, TypeVar
 
 NR = List[int]
@@ -440,7 +417,7 @@ reveal_type(d)  # N: Revealed type is "Any"
 [builtins fixtures/isinstancelist.pyi]
 
 [case testBasicRecursiveNamedTuple]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
+# flags: --strict-optional
 from typing import NamedTuple, Optional
 
 NT = NamedTuple("NT", [("x", Optional[NT]), ("y", int)])
@@ -454,7 +431,6 @@ if nt.x is not None:
 [builtins fixtures/tuple.pyi]
 
 [case testBasicRecursiveNamedTupleSpecial]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import NamedTuple, TypeVar, Tuple
 
 NT = NamedTuple("NT", [("x", NT), ("y", int)])
@@ -476,7 +452,7 @@ reveal_type(f(tnt, nt))  # N: Revealed type is "builtins.tuple[Any, ...]"
 [builtins fixtures/tuple.pyi]
 
 [case testBasicRecursiveNamedTupleClass]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
+# flags: --strict-optional
 from typing import NamedTuple, Optional
 
 class NT(NamedTuple):
@@ -493,7 +469,6 @@ if nt.x is not None:
 [builtins fixtures/tuple.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveRegularTupleClass]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import Tuple
 
 x: B
@@ -505,7 +480,6 @@ reveal_type(b.x)  # N: Revealed type is "builtins.int"
 [builtins fixtures/tuple.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveTupleClassesNewType]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import Tuple, NamedTuple, NewType
 
 x: C
@@ -528,7 +502,6 @@ reveal_type(bnt.y)  # N: Revealed type is "builtins.int"
 -- Tests duplicating some existing named tuple tests with recursive aliases enabled
 
 [case testMutuallyRecursiveNamedTuples]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import Tuple, NamedTuple, TypeVar, Union
 
 A = NamedTuple('A', [('x', str), ('y', Tuple[B, ...])])
@@ -547,7 +520,6 @@ y: str = x  # E: Incompatible types in assignment (expression has type "Union[st
 [builtins fixtures/tuple.pyi]
 
 [case testMutuallyRecursiveNamedTuplesJoin]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import NamedTuple, Tuple
 
 class B(NamedTuple):
@@ -564,7 +536,6 @@ reveal_type(lst[0]) # N: Revealed type is "Tuple[builtins.object, builtins.objec
 [builtins fixtures/tuple.pyi]
 
 [case testMutuallyRecursiveNamedTuplesClasses]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import NamedTuple, Tuple
 
 class B(NamedTuple):
@@ -587,7 +558,6 @@ t = m  # E: Incompatible types in assignment (expression has type "B", variable
 [builtins fixtures/tuple.pyi]
 
 [case testMutuallyRecursiveNamedTuplesCalls]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import NamedTuple
 
 B = NamedTuple('B', [('x', A), ('y', int)])
@@ -600,7 +570,6 @@ f(n)  # E: Argument 1 to "f" has incompatible type "A"; expected "B"
 [builtins fixtures/tuple.pyi]
 
 [case testNoRecursiveTuplesAtFunctionScope]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import NamedTuple, Tuple
 def foo() -> None:
     class B(NamedTuple):
@@ -608,11 +577,10 @@ def foo() -> None:
               # N: Recursive types are not allowed at function scope
         y: int
     b: B
-    reveal_type(b)  # N: Revealed type is "Tuple[Any, builtins.int, fallback=__main__.B@4]"
+    reveal_type(b)  # N: Revealed type is "Tuple[Any, builtins.int, fallback=__main__.B@3]"
 [builtins fixtures/tuple.pyi]
 
 [case testBasicRecursiveGenericNamedTuple]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import Generic, NamedTuple, TypeVar, Union
 
 T = TypeVar("T", covariant=True)
@@ -636,7 +604,6 @@ reveal_type(last(ntb))  # N: Revealed type is "__main__.B"
 [builtins fixtures/tuple.pyi]
 
 [case testBasicRecursiveTypedDictClass]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import TypedDict
 
 class TD(TypedDict):
@@ -650,7 +617,6 @@ s: str = td["y"]  # E: Incompatible types in assignment (expression has type "TD
 [typing fixtures/typing-typeddict.pyi]
 
 [case testBasicRecursiveTypedDictCall]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import TypedDict
 
 TD = TypedDict("TD", {"x": int, "y": TD})
@@ -668,7 +634,6 @@ td = td3  # E: Incompatible types in assignment (expression has type "TD3", vari
 [typing fixtures/typing-typeddict.pyi]
 
 [case testBasicRecursiveTypedDictExtending]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import TypedDict
 
 class TDA(TypedDict):
@@ -689,7 +654,6 @@ reveal_type(td)  # N: Revealed type is "TypedDict('__main__.TD', {'xb': builtins
 [typing fixtures/typing-typeddict.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveTypedDictCreation]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import TypedDict, Optional
 
 class TD(TypedDict):
@@ -705,7 +669,7 @@ itd2 = TD(x=0, y=TD(x=0, y=TD(x=0, y=None)))
 [typing fixtures/typing-typeddict.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveTypedDictMethods]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
+# flags: --strict-optional
 from typing import TypedDict
 
 class TD(TypedDict, total=False):
@@ -725,7 +689,6 @@ td.update({"x": 0, "y": {"x": 1, "y": {"x": 2, "y": 42}}})  # E: Incompatible ty
 [typing fixtures/typing-typeddict.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveTypedDictSubtyping]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import TypedDict
 
 class TDA1(TypedDict):
@@ -752,7 +715,6 @@ fb(tda1)  # E: Argument 1 to "fb" has incompatible type "TDA1"; expected "TDB"
 [typing fixtures/typing-typeddict.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveTypedDictJoin]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import TypedDict, TypeVar
 
 class TDA1(TypedDict):
@@ -778,7 +740,6 @@ reveal_type(f(tda1, tdb))  # N: Revealed type is "TypedDict({})"
 [typing fixtures/typing-typeddict.pyi]
 
 [case testBasicRecursiveGenericTypedDict]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import TypedDict, TypeVar, Generic, Optional, List
 
 T = TypeVar("T")
@@ -794,7 +755,6 @@ reveal_type(collect({"left": {"right": {"value": 0}}}))  # N: Revealed type is "
 [typing fixtures/typing-typeddict.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveGenericTypedDictExtending]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import TypedDict, Generic, TypeVar, List
 
 T = TypeVar("T")
@@ -812,7 +772,7 @@ reveal_type(std)  # N: Revealed type is "TypedDict('__main__.STD', {'val': built
 [typing fixtures/typing-typeddict.pyi]
 
 [case testRecursiveClassLevelAlias]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
+# flags: --strict-optional
 from typing import Union, Sequence
 
 class A:
diff --git a/test-data/unit/check-type-aliases.test b/test-data/unit/check-type-aliases.test
index 2849a226727b..8dafc8f47a6c 100644
--- a/test-data/unit/check-type-aliases.test
+++ b/test-data/unit/check-type-aliases.test
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ Alias = Tuple[int, T]
 [out]
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasesErrors1]
-
+# flags: --disable-recursive-aliases
 # Recursive aliases are not supported yet.
 from typing import Type, Callable, Union
 
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ B = Callable[[B], int] # E: Cannot resolve name "B" (possible cyclic definition)
 C = Type[C] # E: Cannot resolve name "C" (possible cyclic definition)
 
 [case testRecursiveAliasesErrors2]
-
+# flags: --disable-recursive-aliases
 # Recursive aliases are not supported yet.
 from typing import Type, Callable, Union
 
@@ -243,8 +243,7 @@ reveal_type(x[0].x) # N: Revealed type is "builtins.str"
 [out]
 
 [case testJSONAliasApproximation]
-
-# Recursive aliases are not supported yet.
+# flags: --disable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import List, Union, Dict
 x: JSON # E: Cannot resolve name "JSON" (possible cyclic definition)
 JSON = Union[int, str, List[JSON], Dict[str, JSON]] # E: Cannot resolve name "JSON" (possible cyclic definition)
@@ -772,7 +771,6 @@ f(string, string)
 [typing fixtures/typing-medium.pyi]
 
 [case testForwardTypeVarRefWithRecursiveFlag]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 import c
 [file a.py]
 from typing import TypeVar, List, Any, Generic
diff --git a/test-data/unit/check-typeddict.test b/test-data/unit/check-typeddict.test
index 5bfe9f4c5555..bbd6874c6263 100644
--- a/test-data/unit/check-typeddict.test
+++ b/test-data/unit/check-typeddict.test
@@ -1443,7 +1443,7 @@ reveal_type(x['a']['b']) # N: Revealed type is "builtins.int"
 [case testSelfRecursiveTypedDictInheriting]
 
 from mypy_extensions import TypedDict
-
+# flags: --disable-recursive-aliases
 class MovieBase(TypedDict):
     name: str
     year: int
@@ -1457,7 +1457,7 @@ reveal_type(m['director']['name']) # N: Revealed type is "Any"
 [out]
 
 [case testSubclassOfRecursiveTypedDict]
-
+# flags: --disable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import List
 from mypy_extensions import TypedDict
 
diff --git a/test-data/unit/check-unions.test b/test-data/unit/check-unions.test
index f29e9d4b3f6b..733e2be1eac6 100644
--- a/test-data/unit/check-unions.test
+++ b/test-data/unit/check-unions.test
@@ -1004,7 +1004,7 @@ def takes_int(arg: int) -> None: pass
 takes_int(x)  # E: Argument 1 to "takes_int" has incompatible type "Union[ExtremelyLongTypeNameWhichIsGenericSoWeCanUseItMultipleTimes[int], ExtremelyLongTypeNameWhichIsGenericSoWeCanUseItMultipleTimes[object], ExtremelyLongTypeNameWhichIsGenericSoWeCanUseItMultipleTimes[float], ExtremelyLongTypeNameWhichIsGenericSoWeCanUseItMultipleTimes[str], ExtremelyLongTypeNameWhichIsGenericSoWeCanUseItMultipleTimes[Any], ExtremelyLongTypeNameWhichIsGenericSoWeCanUseItMultipleTimes[bytes]]"; expected "int"
 
 [case testRecursiveForwardReferenceInUnion]
-
+# flags: --disable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import List, Union
 MYTYPE = List[Union[str, "MYTYPE"]] # E: Cannot resolve name "MYTYPE" (possible cyclic definition)
 [builtins fixtures/list.pyi]
diff --git a/test-data/unit/fine-grained.test b/test-data/unit/fine-grained.test
index 364e4049b961..27c062531903 100644
--- a/test-data/unit/fine-grained.test
+++ b/test-data/unit/fine-grained.test
@@ -3449,7 +3449,6 @@ f(a.x)
 ==
 
 [case testNamedTupleUpdate5]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 import b
 [file a.py]
 from typing import NamedTuple, Optional
@@ -3503,7 +3502,7 @@ def foo() -> None:
 b.py:4: error: Incompatible types in assignment (expression has type "str", variable has type "int")
 
 [case testNamedTupleUpdateNonRecursiveToRecursiveFine]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
+# flags: --strict-optional
 import c
 [file a.py]
 from b import M
@@ -3546,7 +3545,7 @@ c.py:5: error: Incompatible types in assignment (expression has type "Optional[N
 c.py:7: note: Revealed type is "Tuple[Union[Tuple[Union[..., None], builtins.int, fallback=b.M], None], builtins.int, fallback=a.N]"
 
 [case testTupleTypeUpdateNonRecursiveToRecursiveFine]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
+# flags: --strict-optional
 import c
 [file a.py]
 from b import M
@@ -3579,7 +3578,7 @@ c.py:4: note: Revealed type is "Tuple[Union[Tuple[Union[..., None], builtins.int
 c.py:5: error: Incompatible types in assignment (expression has type "Optional[N]", variable has type "int")
 
 [case testTypeAliasUpdateNonRecursiveToRecursiveFine]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
+# flags: --strict-optional
 import c
 [file a.py]
 from b import M
@@ -3668,7 +3667,6 @@ def foo(x: Point) -> int:
 b.py:3: error: Unsupported operand types for + ("int" and "str")
 
 [case testTypedDictUpdate3]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 import b
 [file a.py]
 from mypy_extensions import TypedDict
diff --git a/test-data/unit/pythoneval.test b/test-data/unit/pythoneval.test
index da326c915ffd..59ab586b17e6 100644
--- a/test-data/unit/pythoneval.test
+++ b/test-data/unit/pythoneval.test
@@ -1621,7 +1621,6 @@ _testEnumValueWithPlaceholderNodeType.py:6: error: Incompatible types in assignm
 _testEnumValueWithPlaceholderNodeType.py:6: error: Name "Missing" is not defined
 
 [case testTypeshedRecursiveTypesExample]
-# flags: --enable-recursive-aliases
 from typing import List, Union
 
 Recursive = Union[str, List["Recursive"]]