diff --git a/changelog/22394.txt b/changelog/22394.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4f5a2b9c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/22394.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+```release-note:bug
+ui: fixes `max_versions` default for secret metadata unintentionally overriding kv engine defaults
+```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ui/app/models/secret-v2.js b/ui/app/models/secret-v2.js
index 21ae5af59..78330125c 100644
--- a/ui/app/models/secret-v2.js
+++ b/ui/app/models/secret-v2.js
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ export default SecretV2Model.extend(KeyMixin, {
     subText: 'An optional set of informational key-value pairs that will be stored with all secret versions.',
   }),
   maxVersions: attr('number', {
-    defaultValue: 10,
+    defaultValue: 0,
     label: 'Maximum number of versions',
     subText:
       'The number of versions to keep per key. Once the number of keys exceeds the maximum number set here, the oldest version will be permanently deleted.',