diff --git a/qiskit/transpiler/preset_passmanagers/__init__.py b/qiskit/transpiler/preset_passmanagers/__init__.py
index 9b6efe661b2e..6a8dab2ba336 100644
--- a/qiskit/transpiler/preset_passmanagers/__init__.py
+++ b/qiskit/transpiler/preset_passmanagers/__init__.py
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ def generate_preset_pass_manager(
     routing_method=None,
     translation_method=None,
     scheduling_method=None,
-    approximation_degree=None,
+    approximation_degree=1.0,
     seed_transpiler=None,
     unitary_synthesis_method="default",
     unitary_synthesis_plugin_config=None,
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/preset-pass-manager-approximation-degree-503198b1974adf79.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/preset-pass-manager-approximation-degree-503198b1974adf79.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..01cf21e335f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/preset-pass-manager-approximation-degree-503198b1974adf79.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+---
+upgrade:
+  - |
+    The implicit use of ``approximation_degree!=1.0`` by default in the
+    :func:`~.generate_preset_pass_manager` function has been
+    disabled.  The previous default could cause undue and unexpected approximations, especially in
+    workloads involving Trotterization or similar runs of operations that are close, but decidedly
+    not equal, to the identity.
+
+    This change brings the inner pass-manager generation defaults in line with :func:`.transpile`,
+    which was always the intention.  See `#8595 <https://github.com/Qiskit/qiskit/pull/8595>`__ for
+    more detail.