diff --git a/api/jobs.go b/api/jobs.go
index 3bf7b2be2..8a8cb515e 100644
--- a/api/jobs.go
+++ b/api/jobs.go
@@ -332,24 +332,26 @@ func (u *UpdateStrategy) Canonicalize() {
 		u.MaxParallel = helper.IntToPtr(0)
 	}
 
+	d := structs.DefaultUpdateStrategy
+
 	if u.HealthCheck == nil {
-		u.HealthCheck = helper.StringToPtr(structs.UpdateStrategyHealthCheck_Checks)
+		u.HealthCheck = helper.StringToPtr(d.HealthCheck)
 	}
 
 	if u.HealthyDeadline == nil {
-		u.HealthyDeadline = helper.TimeToPtr(5 * time.Minute)
+		u.HealthyDeadline = helper.TimeToPtr(d.HealthyDeadline)
 	}
 
 	if u.MinHealthyTime == nil {
-		u.MinHealthyTime = helper.TimeToPtr(10 * time.Second)
+		u.MinHealthyTime = helper.TimeToPtr(d.MinHealthyTime)
 	}
 
 	if u.AutoRevert == nil {
-		u.AutoRevert = helper.BoolToPtr(false)
+		u.AutoRevert = helper.BoolToPtr(d.AutoRevert)
 	}
 
 	if u.Canary == nil {
-		u.Canary = helper.IntToPtr(0)
+		u.Canary = helper.IntToPtr(d.Canary)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/nomad/structs/structs.go b/nomad/structs/structs.go
index fc1304e0a..50469f8ff 100644
--- a/nomad/structs/structs.go
+++ b/nomad/structs/structs.go
@@ -1667,7 +1667,7 @@ const (
 
 var (
 	// DefaultUpdateStrategy provides a baseline that can be used to upgrade
-	// jobs with the old policy
+	// jobs with the old policy or for populating field defaults.
 	DefaultUpdateStrategy = &UpdateStrategy{
 		MaxParallel:     0,
 		HealthCheck:     UpdateStrategyHealthCheck_Checks,