diff --git a/repository/src/main/java/org/apache/atlas/repository/audit/ESBasedAuditRepository.java b/repository/src/main/java/org/apache/atlas/repository/audit/ESBasedAuditRepository.java
index 13c69d537c..3de1728a7a 100644
--- a/repository/src/main/java/org/apache/atlas/repository/audit/ESBasedAuditRepository.java
+++ b/repository/src/main/java/org/apache/atlas/repository/audit/ESBasedAuditRepository.java
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ private boolean shouldUpdateFieldLimitSetting() {
             LOG.error("Problem while retrieving the index field limit!", e);
             return false;
         }
-        Integer fieldLimitFromConfigurationFile = configuration.getInt(TOTAL_FIELD_LIMIT);
+        Integer fieldLimitFromConfigurationFile = configuration.getInt(TOTAL_FIELD_LIMIT, 0);
         return currentFieldLimit == null || fieldLimitFromConfigurationFile > currentFieldLimit.asInt();
     }