diff --git a/go/mysql/server.go b/go/mysql/server.go
index 213af75cb90..202aa732f55 100644
--- a/go/mysql/server.go
+++ b/go/mysql/server.go
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ import (
 const (
 	// DefaultServerVersion is the default server version we're sending to the client.
 	// Can be changed.
-	DefaultServerVersion = "5.5.10-Vitess"
+	DefaultServerVersion = "5.7.9-Vitess"
 
 	// timing metric keys
 	connectTimingKey  = "Connect"
diff --git a/helm/vitess/values.yaml b/helm/vitess/values.yaml
index 7bd53706d03..2544e71bec3 100644
--- a/helm/vitess/values.yaml
+++ b/helm/vitess/values.yaml
@@ -201,10 +201,10 @@ vtgate:
   # The options below are the most commonly adjusted, but any flag can be put here.
   # run vtgate --help to see all available flags
   extraFlags:
-    # MySQL server version to advertise. (default "5.5.10-Vitess")
-    # If running 8.0, you may need to use something like "8.0.13-Vitess"
+    # MySQL server version to advertise. (default "5.7.9-Vitess")
+    # If running 8.0, you may prefer to use something like "8.0.13-Vitess"
     # to prevent db clients from running deprecated queries on startup
-    mysql_server_version: "5.5.10-Vitess"
+    mysql_server_version: "5.7.9-Vitess"
 
   secrets: [] # secrets are mounted under /vt/usersecrets/{secretname}