diff --git a/x-pack/filebeat/input/httpjson/input_manager.go b/x-pack/filebeat/input/httpjson/input_manager.go
index 21f5066dc052..8d7e60707869 100644
--- a/x-pack/filebeat/input/httpjson/input_manager.go
+++ b/x-pack/filebeat/input/httpjson/input_manager.go
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ func (m inputManager) Init(grp unison.Group, mode v2.Mode) error {
 // Create creates a cursor input manager if the config has a date cursor set up,
 // otherwise it creates a stateless input manager.
 func (m inputManager) Create(cfg *common.Config) (v2.Input, error) {
-	var config config
+	config := newDefaultConfig()
 	if err := cfg.Unpack(&config); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}