diff --git a/cinder/common/config.py b/cinder/common/config.py
index 09e2d36db5f..ce51bb911e4 100644
--- a/cinder/common/config.py
+++ b/cinder/common/config.py
@@ -157,6 +157,7 @@ global_opts = [
                default=None,
                help='Default volume type to use'),
     cfg.StrOpt('volume_usage_audit_period',
+               default='month',
                help='Time period for which to generate volume usages. '
                     'The options are hour, day, month, or year.'),
     cfg.StrOpt('rootwrap_config',
diff --git a/etc/cinder/cinder.conf.sample b/etc/cinder/cinder.conf.sample
index 4827fcb2499..11603c73a67 100644
--- a/etc/cinder/cinder.conf.sample
+++ b/etc/cinder/cinder.conf.sample
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@
 
 # Time period for which to generate volume usages. The options
 # are hour, day, month, or year. (string value)
-#volume_usage_audit_period=<None>
+#volume_usage_audit_period=month
 
 # Path to the rootwrap configuration file to use for running
 # commands as root (string value)