diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 34dc1d1..ae7c2b6 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@
   * Fix typo in version history in source code.
   * Fix bashism "exit -1", replace it with "exit 127". (Closes: #772367)
     + This is a potentially breaking change, hence bumping major version.
+  * Use nice mode if /etc/slay_mode doesn't exist. (Closes: #510693)
+    + This is a also a breaking change, hence also validates bumping the
+      major version.
 
  -- Axel Beckert <abe@debian.org>  Sat, 08 Oct 2016 00:33:40 +0200
 
diff --git a/slay b/slay
index ef94249..2e1dcdf 100755
--- a/slay
+++ b/slay
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
     fi
   fi
 else
-  MODE='mean'
+  MODE='nice'
   if [ -z $SLAY_BUTTHEAD ]
   then
     SLAY_BUTTHEAD='off'