diff --git a/packages/babel-compiler/babel-compiler.js b/packages/babel-compiler/babel-compiler.js
index 0a592c3ec6..a8e3a0c539 100644
--- a/packages/babel-compiler/babel-compiler.js
+++ b/packages/babel-compiler/babel-compiler.js
@@ -296,9 +296,7 @@ BCp.processOneFileForTarget = function (inputFile, source) {
         const isLegacyWebArch = arch.includes('legacy');
 
         const config = lastModifiedMeteorConfig?.modern?.transpiler;
-        const hasModernTranspiler =
-          lastModifiedMeteorConfig?.modern?.transpiler !== false ||
-            lastModifiedMeteorConfig?.modern === true;
+        const hasModernTranspiler = lastModifiedMeteorConfig?.modern?.transpiler !== false;
         const shouldSkipSwc =
           !hasModernTranspiler ||
           (isAppCode && config?.excludeApp === true) ||
diff --git a/tools/cli/commands.js b/tools/cli/commands.js
index 73fa0715c8..fb4cb93f6f 100644
--- a/tools/cli/commands.js
+++ b/tools/cli/commands.js
@@ -296,12 +296,12 @@ function getMeteorConfig(appDir) {
 
 function isModernArchsOnlyEnabled(appDir) {
   const meteorConfig = getMeteorConfig(appDir);
-  return normalizeModern(meteorConfig?.modern).webArchOnly === true;
+  return normalizeModern(meteorConfig?.modern).webArchOnly !== false;
 }
 
 export function isModernWatcherEnabled(appDir) {
   const meteorConfig = getMeteorConfig(appDir);
-  return normalizeModern(meteorConfig?.modern).watcher === true;
+  return normalizeModern(meteorConfig?.modern).watcher !== false;
 }
 
 function filterWebArchs(webArchs, excludeArchsOption, appDir, options) {