diff --git a/.changelog/10870.txt b/.changelog/10870.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..bff2620bb77
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelog/10870.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+```release-note:bug
+cni: Fixed a bug where fingerprinting of CNI configuration failed with default `cni_config_dir` and `cni_path`
+```
diff --git a/command/agent/config.go b/command/agent/config.go
index b9d108e2f5e..4d1f421d4e3 100644
--- a/command/agent/config.go
+++ b/command/agent/config.go
@@ -882,6 +882,8 @@ func DefaultConfig() *Config {
 				DisableSandbox:   false,
 			},
 			BindWildcardDefaultHostNetwork: true,
+			CNIPath:                        "/opt/cni/bin",
+			CNIConfigDir:                   "/opt/cni/config",
 		},
 		Server: &ServerConfig{
 			Enabled:           false,