diff --git a/pulsar-broker/src/main/java/org/apache/pulsar/broker/admin/impl/NamespacesBase.java b/pulsar-broker/src/main/java/org/apache/pulsar/broker/admin/impl/NamespacesBase.java
index b1a142737c600..e8206be6abdfe 100644
--- a/pulsar-broker/src/main/java/org/apache/pulsar/broker/admin/impl/NamespacesBase.java
+++ b/pulsar-broker/src/main/java/org/apache/pulsar/broker/admin/impl/NamespacesBase.java
@@ -2382,6 +2382,9 @@ protected void internalSetSchemaValidationEnforced(boolean schemaValidationEnfor
     protected boolean internalGetIsAllowAutoUpdateSchema() {
         validateNamespacePolicyOperation(namespaceName, PolicyName.SCHEMA_COMPATIBILITY_STRATEGY,
                 PolicyOperation.READ);
+        if (getNamespacePolicies(namespaceName).is_allow_auto_update_schema == null) {
+            return pulsar().getConfig().isAllowAutoUpdateSchemaEnabled();
+        }
         return getNamespacePolicies(namespaceName).is_allow_auto_update_schema;
     }