diff --git a/src/compiler/commandLineParser.ts b/src/compiler/commandLineParser.ts
index 345eff35052..9ff0bf0930b 100644
--- a/src/compiler/commandLineParser.ts
+++ b/src/compiler/commandLineParser.ts
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ export const targetOptionDeclaration: CommandLineOptionOfCustomType = {
     showInSimplifiedHelpView: true,
     category: Diagnostics.Language_and_Environment,
     description: Diagnostics.Set_the_JavaScript_language_version_for_emitted_JavaScript_and_include_compatible_library_declarations,
-    defaultValueDescription: ScriptTarget.ES5,
+    defaultValueDescription: ScriptTarget.ESNext,
 };
 
 /** @internal */
diff --git a/src/compiler/utilities.ts b/src/compiler/utilities.ts
index 3f79843f31a..add8b7a98d7 100644
--- a/src/compiler/utilities.ts
+++ b/src/compiler/utilities.ts
@@ -8989,7 +8989,7 @@ const _computedOptions = createComputedCompilerOptions({
                     (compilerOptions.module === ModuleKind.Node18 && ScriptTarget.ES2022) ||
                     (compilerOptions.module === ModuleKind.Node20 && ScriptTarget.ES2023) ||
                     (compilerOptions.module === ModuleKind.NodeNext && ScriptTarget.ESNext) ||
-                    ScriptTarget.ES5);
+                    ScriptTarget.ESNext);
         },
     },
     module: {