diff --git a/SConstruct b/SConstruct
index 1b3092b84..215f774d8 100644
--- a/SConstruct
+++ b/SConstruct
@@ -249,12 +249,12 @@ BOOST_MIN_VERSION = '1.41'
 PLUGINS = { # plugins with external dependencies
             # configured by calling project, henche 'path':None
             'postgis': {'default':True,'path':None,'inc':'libpq-fe.h','lib':'pq','lang':'C'},
-            'gdal':    {'default':False,'path':None,'inc':'gdal_priv.h','lib':'gdal','lang':'C++'},
-            'ogr':     {'default':False,'path':None,'inc':'ogrsf_frmts.h','lib':'gdal','lang':'C++'},
+            'gdal':    {'default':True,'path':None,'inc':'gdal_priv.h','lib':'gdal','lang':'C++'},
+            'ogr':     {'default':True,'path':None,'inc':'ogrsf_frmts.h','lib':'gdal','lang':'C++'},
             'geos':    {'default':False,'path':None,'inc':'geos_c.h','lib':'geos_c','lang':'C'},
             # configured with custom paths, hence 'path': PREFIX/INCLUDES/LIBS
             'occi':    {'default':False,'path':'OCCI','inc':'occi.h','lib':'ociei','lang':'C++'},
-            'sqlite':  {'default':False,'path':'SQLITE','inc':'sqlite3.h','lib':'sqlite3','lang':'C'},
+            'sqlite':  {'default':True,'path':'SQLITE','inc':'sqlite3.h','lib':'sqlite3','lang':'C'},
             'rasterlite':  {'default':False,'path':'RASTERLITE','inc':['sqlite3.h','rasterlite.h'],'lib':'rasterlite','lang':'C'},
             
             # todo: osm plugin does also depend on libxml2 (but there is a separate check for that)