diff --git a/lib/bcoin/pool.js b/lib/bcoin/pool.js
index f6db0e58..c9464f8a 100644
--- a/lib/bcoin/pool.js
+++ b/lib/bcoin/pool.js
@@ -32,7 +32,9 @@ function Pool(options) {
     network.set(this.options.network);
 
   this.options.fullNode = !!this.options.fullNode;
-  this.options.relay = this.options.relay !== false;
+  this.options.relay = this.options.relay == null
+    ? (this.options.fullNode ? true : false)
+    : this.options.relay;
   this.storage = this.options.storage;
   this.destroyed = false;
   this.size = options.size || 32;