diff --git a/awx/api/serializers.py b/awx/api/serializers.py
index ca454a0b1e..794ee938f6 100644
--- a/awx/api/serializers.py
+++ b/awx/api/serializers.py
@@ -4618,12 +4618,15 @@ class NotificationTemplateSerializer(BaseSerializer):
             object_actual = self.context['view'].get_object()
         else:
             object_actual = None
-        for field in notification_class.init_parameters:
+        for field, params in notification_class.init_parameters.items():
             if field not in attrs['notification_configuration']:
-                missing_fields.append(field)
-                continue
+                if 'default' in params:
+                    attrs['notification_configuration'][field] = params['default']
+                else:
+                    missing_fields.append(field)
+                    continue
             field_val = attrs['notification_configuration'][field]
-            field_type = notification_class.init_parameters[field]['type']
+            field_type = params['type']
             expected_types = self.type_map[field_type]
             if not type(field_val) in expected_types:
                 incorrect_type_fields.append((field, field_type))
diff --git a/awx/main/notifications/email_backend.py b/awx/main/notifications/email_backend.py
index 6339519115..1b30b344bb 100644
--- a/awx/main/notifications/email_backend.py
+++ b/awx/main/notifications/email_backend.py
@@ -18,10 +18,11 @@ class CustomEmailBackend(EmailBackend):
                        "use_ssl": {"label": "Use SSL", "type": "bool"},
                        "sender": {"label": "Sender Email", "type": "string"},
                        "recipients": {"label": "Recipient List", "type": "list"},
-                       "timeout": {"label": "Timeout", "type": "int"}}
+                       "timeout": {"label": "Timeout", "type": "int", "default": 30}}
     recipient_parameter = "recipients"
     sender_parameter = "sender"
 
+
     def format_body(self, body):
         if "body" in body:
             body_actual = body['body']