diff --git a/zebra/interface.c b/zebra/interface.c
index b673367e903b..f4fdf895189a 100644
--- a/zebra/interface.c
+++ b/zebra/interface.c
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ DEFINE_HOOK(zebra_if_config_wr, (struct vty * vty, struct interface *ifp),
 DEFINE_MTYPE(ZEBRA, ZIF_DESC, "Intf desc");
 
 FRR_CFG_DEFAULT_UINT8_T(ZEBRA_MPLS,
-	{ .val_uint8_t = IF_ZEBRA_DATA_UNSPEC},
+	{ .val_uint8_t = IF_ZEBRA_DATA_AUTO},
 );
 
 static void if_down_del_nbr_connected(struct interface *ifp);