diff --git a/docs/usage/configuration.md b/docs/usage/configuration.md
index 2acbfa5a..b88d7093 100644
--- a/docs/usage/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/usage/configuration.md
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ See [Plugins configuration](plugins.md#configuration) for more details.
 
 Type: `Array`, `String`, `Object`
 
-Default: `[]`
+Default: `['@semantic-release/github']`
 
 CLI argument: `--success`
 
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ See [Plugins configuration](plugins.md#configuration) for more details.
 
 Type: `Array`, `String`, `Object`
 
-Default: `[]`
+Default: `['@semantic-release/github']`
 
 CLI argument: `--fail`
 
diff --git a/lib/definitions/plugins.js b/lib/definitions/plugins.js
index 98b1b17a..2e956e32 100644
--- a/lib/definitions/plugins.js
+++ b/lib/definitions/plugins.js
@@ -47,13 +47,13 @@ module.exports = {
     },
   },
   success: {
-    default: false,
+    default: ['@semantic-release/github'],
     config: {
       validator: conf => !conf || (isArray(conf) ? conf : [conf]).every(conf => validatePluginConfig(conf)),
     },
   },
   fail: {
-    default: false,
+    default: ['@semantic-release/github'],
     config: {
       validator: conf => !conf || (isArray(conf) ? conf : [conf]).every(conf => validatePluginConfig(conf)),
     },