diff --git a/docs/crio.8.md b/docs/crio.8.md
index 7983168dc9d..95551a4bf79 100644
--- a/docs/crio.8.md
+++ b/docs/crio.8.md
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ crio [GLOBAL OPTIONS] command [COMMAND OPTIONS] [ARGUMENTS...]
 
 **--seccomp-use-default-when-empty**: Use the default seccomp profile when an empty one is specified
 
-**--selinux**: Enable selinux support (default: false)
+**--selinux**: Enable selinux support (default: true)
 
 **--separate-pull-cgroup**="": [EXPERIMENTAL] Pull in new cgroup (default: "")
 
diff --git a/docs/crio.conf.5.md b/docs/crio.conf.5.md
index fcedfba38dd..11557b62b57 100644
--- a/docs/crio.conf.5.md
+++ b/docs/crio.conf.5.md
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ CRI-O reads its storage defaults from the containers-storage.conf(5) file locate
   It is used to check if crio wipe should wipe containers, which should
   always happen on a node reboot
 
-**version_file_persist**="/var/lib/crio/version"
+**version_file_persist**=""
   Location for CRI-O to lay down the persistent version file.
   It is used to check if crio wipe should wipe images, which should
   only happen when CRI-O has been upgraded
diff --git a/internal/version/version.go b/internal/version/version.go
index 35728887843..3177586e028 100644
--- a/internal/version/version.go
+++ b/internal/version/version.go
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 package version
 
 import (
-	"bufio"
 	"fmt"
-	"io/ioutil"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"reflect"
@@ -56,14 +54,12 @@ func ShouldCrioWipe(versionFileName string) (bool, error) {
 
 // shouldCrioWipe is an internal function for testing purposes
 func shouldCrioWipe(versionFileName, versionString string) (bool, error) {
-	f, err := os.Open(versionFileName)
-	if err != nil {
-		return true, errors.Errorf("version file %s not found: %v", versionFileName, err)
+	if versionFileName == "" {
+		return false, nil
 	}
-	r := bufio.NewReader(f)
-	versionBytes, err := ioutil.ReadAll(r)
+	versionBytes, err := os.ReadFile(versionFileName)
 	if err != nil {
-		return true, errors.Errorf("reading version file %s failed: %v", versionFileName, err)
+		return true, errors.Errorf("version file %s not found: %v", versionFileName, err)
 	}
 
 	// parse the version that was laid down by a previous invocation of crio
@@ -99,6 +95,9 @@ func LogVersion() {
 
 // writeVersionFile is an internal function for testing purposes
 func writeVersionFile(file, gitCommit, version string) error {
+	if file == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
 	current, err := parseVersionConstant(version, gitCommit)
 	// Sanity check-this should never happen
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/version/version_test.go b/internal/version/version_test.go
index ec031167df3..bb71d7604ad 100644
--- a/internal/version/version_test.go
+++ b/internal/version/version_test.go
@@ -74,10 +74,10 @@ var _ = t.Describe("Version", func() {
 			_, err = ioutil.ReadFile(filename)
 			Expect(err).To(BeNil())
 		})
-		It("should fail to upgrade with unspecified version", func() {
+		It("should not wipe with empty version file", func() {
 			upgrade, err := shouldCrioWipe("", tempVersion)
-			Expect(upgrade).To(BeTrue())
-			Expect(err).ToNot(BeNil())
+			Expect(upgrade).To(BeFalse())
+			Expect(err).To(BeNil())
 		})
 		It("should fail to upgrade with empty version file", func() {
 			tempFileName := tempFileName
diff --git a/pkg/config/config.go b/pkg/config/config.go
index c8b3a5d3f62..3d0797902c6 100644
--- a/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -760,15 +760,14 @@ func DefaultConfig() (*Config, error) {
 			DockerRegistryUserAgent: useragent.Get(),
 		},
 		RootConfig: RootConfig{
-			Root:               storeOpts.GraphRoot,
-			RunRoot:            storeOpts.RunRoot,
-			Storage:            storeOpts.GraphDriverName,
-			StorageOptions:     storeOpts.GraphDriverOptions,
-			LogDir:             "/var/log/crio/pods",
-			VersionFile:        CrioVersionPathTmp,
-			VersionFilePersist: CrioVersionPathPersist,
-			CleanShutdownFile:  CrioCleanShutdownFile,
-			InternalWipe:       true,
+			Root:              storeOpts.GraphRoot,
+			RunRoot:           storeOpts.RunRoot,
+			Storage:           storeOpts.GraphDriverName,
+			StorageOptions:    storeOpts.GraphDriverOptions,
+			LogDir:            "/var/log/crio/pods",
+			VersionFile:       CrioVersionPathTmp,
+			CleanShutdownFile: CrioCleanShutdownFile,
+			InternalWipe:      true,
 		},
 		APIConfig: APIConfig{
 			Listen:             CrioSocketPath,
diff --git a/pkg/config/config_unix.go b/pkg/config/config_unix.go
index 4c72673e78c..156098504fd 100644
--- a/pkg/config/config_unix.go
+++ b/pkg/config/config_unix.go
@@ -23,10 +23,6 @@ const (
 	// used to check if we should wipe containers
 	CrioVersionPathTmp = "/var/run/crio/version"
 
-	// CrioVersionPathPersist is where the CRI-O version file is located
-	// used to check whether we've upgraded, and thus need to remove images
-	CrioVersionPathPersist = "/var/lib/crio/version"
-
 	// CrioCleanShutdownFile is the location CRI-O will lay down the clean shutdown file
 	// that checks whether we've had time to sync before shutting down.
 	// If not, crio wipe will clear the storage directory.