diff --git a/core/citrus-api/src/main/java/org/citrusframework/CitrusSettings.java b/core/citrus-api/src/main/java/org/citrusframework/CitrusSettings.java
index 307a60bf43..d5b7c0e824 100644
--- a/core/citrus-api/src/main/java/org/citrusframework/CitrusSettings.java
+++ b/core/citrus-api/src/main/java/org/citrusframework/CitrusSettings.java
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ private CitrusSettings() {
 
     public static final String CUSTOM_VALIDATOR_STRATEGY_PROPERTY = "citrus.custom.validator.strategy";
     public static final String CUSTOM_VALIDATOR_STRATEGY_ENV = "CITRUS_CUSTOM_VALIDATOR_STRATEGY";
-    public static final CustomValidatorStrategy CUSTOM_VALIDATOR_STRATEGY_DEFAULT = CustomValidatorStrategy.EXCLUSIVE;
+    public static final CustomValidatorStrategy CUSTOM_VALIDATOR_STRATEGY_DEFAULT = CustomValidatorStrategy.COMBINED;
 
     /**
      * Flag to enable/disable input stream caching
diff --git a/core/citrus-api/src/test/java/org/citrusframework/CitrusSettingsTest.java b/core/citrus-api/src/test/java/org/citrusframework/CitrusSettingsTest.java
index 8e40a3729d..e6ef923543 100644
--- a/core/citrus-api/src/test/java/org/citrusframework/CitrusSettingsTest.java
+++ b/core/citrus-api/src/test/java/org/citrusframework/CitrusSettingsTest.java
@@ -56,12 +56,12 @@ public void isStackTraceOutputEnabled_shouldReturnPropertyValue_overEnvVarValue(
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void getCustomValidatorStrategy_shouldReturnExclusiveByDefault() {
+    public void getCustomValidatorStrategy_shouldReturnCombinedByDefault() {
         systemProperties.remove(CUSTOM_VALIDATOR_STRATEGY_PROPERTY);
         environmentVariables.remove(CUSTOM_VALIDATOR_STRATEGY_ENV);
 
         assertThat(CitrusSettings.getCustomValidatorStrategy())
-                .isEqualTo(EXCLUSIVE);
+                .isEqualTo(COMBINED);
     }
 
     @DataProvider
diff --git a/core/citrus-base/src/test/java/org/citrusframework/actions/ReceiveMessageActionTest.java b/core/citrus-base/src/test/java/org/citrusframework/actions/ReceiveMessageActionTest.java
index d39dc33e3b..f98c4d05a6 100644
--- a/core/citrus-base/src/test/java/org/citrusframework/actions/ReceiveMessageActionTest.java
+++ b/core/citrus-base/src/test/java/org/citrusframework/actions/ReceiveMessageActionTest.java
@@ -1232,6 +1232,8 @@ public void testReceiveMessage_shouldInvokeValidationContexts_whenNoCustomValida
                     """
     )
     public void testReceiveMessage_shouldIgnoreValidationContexts_whenCustomValidatorIsPresent_andValidationStrategyIsExclusive() {
+        environmentVariables.set(CUSTOM_VALIDATOR_STRATEGY_ENV, "EXCLUSIVE");
+
         var testActor = new TestActor();
         testActor.setName("TESTACTOR");