diff --git a/weed/server/master_grpc_server.go b/weed/server/master_grpc_server.go
index 60fdbd848..b7c39f2f7 100644
--- a/weed/server/master_grpc_server.go
+++ b/weed/server/master_grpc_server.go
@@ -456,7 +456,11 @@ func (ms *MasterServer) GetMasterConfiguration(ctx context.Context, req *master_
 	leader, _ := ms.Topo.Leader()
 
 	// MIGRATION: expose maintenance scripts for admin server seeding. Remove after March 2027.
+	// Apply defaults here rather than relying on startAdminScripts having called SetDefault,
+	// since this gRPC handler can be reached before startAdminScripts runs.
 	v := util.GetViper()
+	v.SetDefault("master.maintenance.scripts", maintenance.DefaultMasterMaintenanceScripts)
+	v.SetDefault("master.maintenance.sleep_minutes", maintenance.DefaultMaintenanceSleepMinutes)
 	maintenanceScripts := v.GetString("master.maintenance.scripts")
 	maintenanceSleepMinutes := v.GetInt("master.maintenance.sleep_minutes")
 	if maintenanceSleepMinutes <= 0 {