diff --git a/jupyter_resource_usage/api.py b/jupyter_resource_usage/api.py
index c0587ed..2670bd8 100644
--- a/jupyter_resource_usage/api.py
+++ b/jupyter_resource_usage/api.py
@@ -47,18 +47,19 @@ async def get(self):
 
         metrics = {"rss": rss, "limits": limits}
 
-        # Always get cpu usage information
-        cpu_count = psutil.cpu_count()
-        cpu_percent = await self._get_cpu_percent(all_processes)
-
-        if config.cpu_limit != 0:
-            limits["cpu"] = {"cpu": config.cpu_limit}
-            if config.cpu_warning_threshold != 0:
-                limits["cpu"]["warn"] = (config.cpu_limit - cpu_percent) < (
-                    config.cpu_limit * config.cpu_warning_threshold
-                )
-
-        metrics.update(cpu_percent=cpu_percent, cpu_count=cpu_count)
+        # Optionally get CPU information
+        if config.track_cpu_percent:
+            cpu_count = psutil.cpu_count()
+            cpu_percent = await self._get_cpu_percent(all_processes)
+
+            if config.cpu_limit != 0:
+                limits["cpu"] = {"cpu": config.cpu_limit}
+                if config.cpu_warning_threshold != 0:
+                    limits["cpu"]["warn"] = (config.cpu_limit - cpu_percent) < (
+                        config.cpu_limit * config.cpu_warning_threshold
+                    )
+
+            metrics.update(cpu_percent=cpu_percent, cpu_count=cpu_count)
 
         self.write(json.dumps(metrics))
 
diff --git a/jupyter_resource_usage/config.py b/jupyter_resource_usage/config.py
index e8622bf..a047ebd 100644
--- a/jupyter_resource_usage/config.py
+++ b/jupyter_resource_usage/config.py
@@ -87,9 +87,9 @@ def _mem_limit_default(self):
         return int(os.environ.get("MEM_LIMIT", 0))
 
     track_cpu_percent = Bool(
-        default_value=False,
+        default_value=True,
         help="""
-        Set to True in order to enable reporting of CPU usage statistics.
+        Set to False in order to disable reporting of CPU usage statistics.
         """,
     ).tag(config=True)