diff --git a/awx/api/serializers.py b/awx/api/serializers.py
index c832d598d4..6a34747518 100644
--- a/awx/api/serializers.py
+++ b/awx/api/serializers.py
@@ -5612,6 +5612,7 @@ class InstanceSerializer(BaseSerializer):
             # delete the receptor address if the port is None
             instance.receptor_addresses.filter(address=instance.hostname).delete()
         elif kwargs:
+            kwargs['canonical'] = True
             instance.receptor_addresses.update_or_create(address=instance.hostname, defaults=kwargs)
 
         return instance
diff --git a/awx/main/models/receptor_address.py b/awx/main/models/receptor_address.py
index fea1619249..1fa66bd647 100644
--- a/awx/main/models/receptor_address.py
+++ b/awx/main/models/receptor_address.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class ReceptorAddress(models.Model):
         help_text=_("Protocol to use for the Receptor listener, 'tcp', 'wss', or 'ws'."), max_length=10, default=Protocols.TCP, choices=Protocols.choices
     )
     is_internal = models.BooleanField(help_text=_("If True, only routable within the Kubernetes cluster."), default=False)
-    canonical = models.BooleanField(help_text=_("If True, this address is the canonical address for the instance."), default=True)
+    canonical = models.BooleanField(help_text=_("If True, this address is the canonical address for the instance."), default=False)
     peers_from_control_nodes = models.BooleanField(help_text=_("If True, control plane cluster nodes should automatically peer to it."), default=False)
     instance = models.ForeignKey(
         'Instance',