diff --git a/python/lsst/meas/algorithms/adaptive_thresholds.py b/python/lsst/meas/algorithms/adaptive_thresholds.py
index 1d5e3179..3373164e 100644
--- a/python/lsst/meas/algorithms/adaptive_thresholds.py
+++ b/python/lsst/meas/algorithms/adaptive_thresholds.py
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ def run(self, table, exposure, initialThreshold=None, initialThresholdMultiplier
         adaptiveDetectionConfig.reEstimateBackground = False
         adaptiveDetectionConfig.doTempWideBackground = True
         adaptiveDetectionConfig.tempWideBackground.binSize = 512
-        adaptiveDetectionConfig.thresholdPolarity = "both"
+        adaptiveDetectionConfig.thresholdPolarity = "positive"
         self.log.info("Using adaptive detection with thresholdValue = %.2f and multiplier = %.1f",
                       adaptiveDetectionConfig.thresholdValue,
                       adaptiveDetectionConfig.includeThresholdMultiplier)
diff --git a/python/lsst/meas/algorithms/detection.py b/python/lsst/meas/algorithms/detection.py
index 4dc00ff5..03c2a5f8 100644
--- a/python/lsst/meas/algorithms/detection.py
+++ b/python/lsst/meas/algorithms/detection.py
@@ -617,7 +617,7 @@ def applyThreshold(self, middle, bbox, factor=1.0, factorNeg=None):
                 self.config.minPixels
             )
             results.positive.setRegion(bbox)
-        if self.config.reEstimateBackground or self.config.thresholdPolarity != "positive":
+        if self.config.thresholdPolarity != "positive":
             results.negativeThreshold = self.makeThreshold(middle, "negative", factor=factorNeg)
             results.negative = afwDet.FootprintSet(
                 middle,