diff --git a/src/settings.js b/src/settings.js
index d2380857c..155b06d8c 100644
--- a/src/settings.js
+++ b/src/settings.js
@@ -137,7 +137,8 @@ let gDefaults = (function () {
     };
     result[exports.PLATFORM_CONFIG_KEY] = {};
     result[exports.EXTERNAL_LDAP_KEY] = {
-        provider: 'noop'
+        provider: 'noop',
+        autoCreate: false
     };
     result[exports.REGISTRY_CONFIG_KEY] = {};
     result[exports.SYSINFO_CONFIG_KEY] = {
@@ -416,7 +417,12 @@ function getExternalLdapConfig(callback) {
         if (error && error.reason === BoxError.NOT_FOUND) return callback(null, gDefaults[exports.EXTERNAL_LDAP_KEY]);
         if (error) return callback(error);
 
-        callback(null, JSON.parse(value));
+        let config = JSON.parse(value);
+
+        // ensure new keys
+        if (!config.autoCreate) config.autoCreate = false;
+
+        callback(null, config);
     });
 }