diff --git a/kong/templates/kong_defaults.lua b/kong/templates/kong_defaults.lua
index 6a33c351d3a..b03980d9fb9 100644
--- a/kong/templates/kong_defaults.lua
+++ b/kong/templates/kong_defaults.lua
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ cluster_max_payload = 16777216
 cluster_use_proxy = off
 cluster_dp_labels = NONE
 cluster_rpc = off
+cluster_cjson = off
 
 lmdb_environment_path = dbless.lmdb
 lmdb_map_size = 2048m