diff --git a/client/client.go b/client/client.go
index d993903c2..12799161f 100644
--- a/client/client.go
+++ b/client/client.go
@@ -1569,6 +1569,12 @@ func (c *Client) setupNode() error {
 		node.NodeResources.MinDynamicPort = newConfig.MinDynamicPort
 		node.NodeResources.MaxDynamicPort = newConfig.MaxDynamicPort
 		node.NodeResources.Processors = newConfig.Node.NodeResources.Processors
+
+		if node.NodeResources.Processors.Empty() {
+			node.NodeResources.Processors = structs.NodeProcessorResources{
+				Topology: &numalib.Topology{},
+			}
+		}
 	}
 	if node.ReservedResources == nil {
 		node.ReservedResources = &structs.NodeReservedResources{}
diff --git a/client/lib/numalib/detect.go b/client/lib/numalib/detect.go
index c3cc54113..e370fdf50 100644
--- a/client/lib/numalib/detect.go
+++ b/client/lib/numalib/detect.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ type SystemScanner interface {
 // a single Topology, which can then be used to answer questions about the CPU
 // topology of the system.
 func Scan(scanners []SystemScanner) *Topology {
-	top := new(Topology)
+	top := &Topology{}
 	for _, scanner := range scanners {
 		scanner.ScanSystem(top)
 	}
diff --git a/nomad/structs/cpucompat_default.go b/nomad/structs/cpucompat_default.go
index ce971e77e..b906ebcc1 100644
--- a/nomad/structs/cpucompat_default.go
+++ b/nomad/structs/cpucompat_default.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func (n *NodeResources) Compatibility() {
 		// the LegacyNodeCpuResources field, and so we synthesize a pseudo
 		// NodeProcessorResources field
 		n.Processors.Topology = topologyFromLegacy(n.Cpu)
-	} else if !n.Processors.empty() {
+	} else if !n.Processors.Empty() {
 		// When we receive a node update from a 1.7+ client it contains a
 		// NodeProcessorResources field, and we populate the LegacyNodeCpuResources
 		// field using that information.
diff --git a/nomad/structs/cpucompat_linux.go b/nomad/structs/cpucompat_linux.go
index 26d8b195b..99a47f352 100644
--- a/nomad/structs/cpucompat_linux.go
+++ b/nomad/structs/cpucompat_linux.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func (n *NodeResources) Compatibility() {
 		// the LegacyNodeCpuResources field, and so we synthesize a pseudo
 		// NodeProcessorResources field
 		n.Processors.Topology = topologyFromLegacy(n.Cpu)
-	} else if !n.Processors.empty() {
+	} else if !n.Processors.Empty() {
 		// When we receive a node update from a 1.7+ client it contains a
 		// NodeProcessorResources field, and we populate the LegacyNodeCpuResources
 		// field using that information.
diff --git a/nomad/structs/numa.go b/nomad/structs/numa.go
index 7eccb1b13..8b79282ec 100644
--- a/nomad/structs/numa.go
+++ b/nomad/structs/numa.go
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ type NodeProcessorResources struct {
 
 // partial struct serialization / copy / merge sadness means this struct can
 // exist with no data, which is a condition we must detect during the upgrade path
-func (r NodeProcessorResources) empty() bool {
+func (r NodeProcessorResources) Empty() bool {
 	return r.Topology == nil || len(r.Topology.Cores) == 0
 }
 
diff --git a/nomad/structs/structs.go b/nomad/structs/structs.go
index 6f08d54e5..008649d80 100644
--- a/nomad/structs/structs.go
+++ b/nomad/structs/structs.go
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/hashicorp/go-version"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/acl"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/client/lib/idset"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/client/lib/numalib"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/client/lib/numalib/hw"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/command/agent/host"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/command/agent/pprof"
@@ -2258,6 +2259,12 @@ func (n *Node) Canonicalize() {
 				n.NodeResources.NodeNetworks = append(n.NodeResources.NodeNetworks, nnr)
 			}
 		}
+
+		if n.NodeResources.Processors.Empty() {
+			n.NodeResources.Processors = NodeProcessorResources{
+				Topology: &numalib.Topology{},
+			}
+		}
 	}
 }