diff --git a/libirods_rule_engine_plugin-audit_amqp.cpp b/libirods_rule_engine_plugin-audit_amqp.cpp
index ed76db077..4b995c78a 100644
--- a/libirods_rule_engine_plugin-audit_amqp.cpp
+++ b/libirods_rule_engine_plugin-audit_amqp.cpp
@@ -45,15 +45,21 @@ using ts_clock = std::chrono::system_clock;
 
 using log_re = irods::experimental::log::rule_engine;
 
-static const std::string rule_engine_name("audit_amqp");
-
 // NOLINTBEGIN(cert-err58-cpp, cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
-static std::string audit_pep_regex_to_match = "audit_.*";
-static std::string audit_amqp_topic = "irods_audit_messages";
-static std::string audit_amqp_location = "localhost:5672";
-static std::string audit_amqp_user = "";
-static std::string audit_amqp_password = "";
-static std::string audit_amqp_options = "";
+static const std::string rule_engine_name("audit_amqp");
+static const std::string default_pep_regex_to_match("audit_.*");
+static const std::string default_amqp_topic("irods_audit_messages");
+static const std::string default_amqp_location("localhost:5672");
+static const std::string default_amqp_user("");
+static const std::string default_amqp_password("");
+static const std::string default_amqp_options("");
+
+static std::string audit_pep_regex_to_match(default_pep_regex_to_match);
+static std::string audit_amqp_topic(default_amqp_topic);
+static std::string audit_amqp_location(default_amqp_location);
+static std::string audit_amqp_user(default_amqp_user);
+static std::string audit_amqp_password(default_amqp_password);
+static std::string audit_amqp_options(default_amqp_options);
 
 static std::mutex audit_plugin_mutex;
 // NOLINTEND(cert-err58-cpp, cppcoreguidelines-avoid-non-const-global-variables)
@@ -167,7 +173,7 @@ auto get_re_configs(const std::string& _instance_name) -> irods::error
 					// amqp_user is optional
 					const auto amqp_user_cfg = plugin_spec_cfg.find("amqp_user");
 					if (amqp_user_cfg == plugin_spec_cfg.end()) {
-						audit_amqp_user.clear();
+						audit_amqp_user = default_amqp_user;
 					}
 					else {
 						audit_amqp_user = amqp_user_cfg->get<std::string>();
@@ -176,7 +182,7 @@ auto get_re_configs(const std::string& _instance_name) -> irods::error
 					// amqp_password is optional
 					const auto amqp_password_cfg = plugin_spec_cfg.find("amqp_password");
 					if (amqp_password_cfg == plugin_spec_cfg.end()) {
-						audit_amqp_password.clear();
+						audit_amqp_password = default_amqp_password;
 					}
 					else {
 						audit_amqp_password = amqp_password_cfg->get<std::string>();
@@ -185,13 +191,19 @@ auto get_re_configs(const std::string& _instance_name) -> irods::error
 					// amqp_options is optional
 					const auto amqp_options_cfg = plugin_spec_cfg.find("amqp_options");
 					if (amqp_options_cfg == plugin_spec_cfg.end()) {
-						audit_amqp_options.clear();
+						audit_amqp_options = default_amqp_options;
 					}
 					else {
 						audit_amqp_options = amqp_options_cfg->get<std::string>();
 					}
 				}
 				else {
+					audit_pep_regex_to_match = default_pep_regex_to_match;
+					audit_amqp_topic = default_amqp_topic;
+					audit_amqp_location = default_amqp_location;
+					audit_amqp_user = default_amqp_user;
+					audit_amqp_password = default_amqp_password;
+					audit_amqp_options = default_amqp_options;
 					// clang-format off
 					log_re::debug({
 						{"rule_engine_plugin", rule_engine_name},