diff --git a/src/backups.js b/src/backups.js
index e9d24a85a..a3346505a 100644
--- a/src/backups.js
+++ b/src/backups.js
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ function injectPrivateFields(newConfig, currentConfig) {
             delete newConfig.password;
         }
     }
-    newConfig.encryption = currentConfig.encryption;
+    newConfig.encryption = currentConfig.encryption || null;
     if (newConfig.provider === currentConfig.provider) api(newConfig.provider).injectPrivateFields(newConfig, currentConfig);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/settings.js b/src/settings.js
index 62b43d309..b22bdfdd4 100644
--- a/src/settings.js
+++ b/src/settings.js
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ let gDefaults = (function () {
         provider: 'filesystem',
         backupFolder: '/var/backups',
         format: 'tgz',
+        encryption: null,
         retentionSecs: 2 * 24 * 60 * 60, // 2 days
         intervalSecs: 24 * 60 * 60 // ~1 day
     };