diff --git a/litellm/__init__.py b/litellm/__init__.py
index 55e258a2c27..3668e6efb0c 100644
--- a/litellm/__init__.py
+++ b/litellm/__init__.py
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ _anthropic_prompt_caching_ttl_env: Optional[str] = os.getenv("LITELLM_ANTHROPIC_
 anthropic_prompt_caching_ttl: Optional[Literal["5m", "1h"]] = (
     "1h" if _anthropic_prompt_caching_ttl_env == "1h" else "5m" if _anthropic_prompt_caching_ttl_env == "5m" else None
 )
-openai_system_messages_first: bool = os.getenv("LITELLM_OPENAI_SYSTEM_MESSAGES_FIRST", "false").lower() == "true"
+openai_system_messages_first: bool = False
 disable_vertex_batch_output_transformation: bool = False
 extra_spend_tag_headers: Optional[List[str]] = None
 in_memory_llm_clients_cache: "LLMClientCache"