diff --git a/lib/jekyll/configuration.rb b/lib/jekyll/configuration.rb
index e00db8b1..0efc1d40 100644
--- a/lib/jekyll/configuration.rb
+++ b/lib/jekyll/configuration.rb
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ module Jekyll
       'timezone'      => nil,           # use the local timezone
 
       'safe'          => false,
+      'detach'        => false,          # don't default to detaching the server
       'show_drafts'   => nil,
       'limit_posts'   => 0,
       'lsi'           => false,