diff --git a/src/config.c b/src/config.c
index f1e3e5d..335bc29 100644
--- a/src/config.c
+++ b/src/config.c
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ static const TidyOptionImpl option_defs[] =
   { TidyEmptyTags,               MU, "new-empty-tags",              ST, 0,               ParseTagNames,     NULL            },
   { TidyPreTags,                 MU, "new-pre-tags",                ST, 0,               ParseTagNames,     NULL            },
   { TidyAccessibilityCheckLevel, DG, "accessibility-check",         IN, 0,               ParseAcc,          accessPicks     },
-  { TidyVertSpace,               PP, "vertical-space",              BL, yes,              ParseBool,         boolPicks       },
+  { TidyVertSpace,               PP, "vertical-space",              BL, no,              ParseAutoBool,     autoBoolPicks   }, /* #228 - tri option */
 #if SUPPORT_ASIAN_ENCODINGS
   { TidyPunctWrap,               PP, "punctuation-wrap",            BL, no,              ParseBool,         boolPicks       },
 #endif