diff --git a/api/services.go b/api/services.go
index 365bf848463..c9b74dd1586 100644
--- a/api/services.go
+++ b/api/services.go
@@ -310,13 +310,9 @@ type ConsulMeshGateway struct {
 }
 
 func (c *ConsulMeshGateway) Canonicalize() {
-	if c == nil {
-		return
-	}
-
-	if c.Mode == "" {
-		c.Mode = "none"
-	}
+	// Mode may be empty string, indicating behavior will defer to Consul
+	// service-defaults config entry.
+	return
 }
 
 func (c *ConsulMeshGateway) Copy() *ConsulMeshGateway {
diff --git a/api/services_test.go b/api/services_test.go
index 14cd3827f8e..2ba4452d1e8 100644
--- a/api/services_test.go
+++ b/api/services_test.go
@@ -613,13 +613,15 @@ func TestService_ConsulMeshGateway_Canonicalize(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	t.Run("unset mode", func(t *testing.T) {
-		c := &ConsulMeshGateway{
-			Mode: "",
-		}
+		c := &ConsulMeshGateway{Mode: ""}
 		c.Canonicalize()
-		require.Equal(t, &ConsulMeshGateway{
-			Mode: "none",
-		}, c)
+		require.Equal(t, "", c.Mode)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("set mode", func(t *testing.T) {
+		c := &ConsulMeshGateway{Mode: "remote"}
+		c.Canonicalize()
+		require.Equal(t, "remote", c.Mode)
 	})
 }
 
diff --git a/vendor/github.com/hashicorp/nomad/api/services.go b/vendor/github.com/hashicorp/nomad/api/services.go
index 365bf848463..c9b74dd1586 100644
--- a/vendor/github.com/hashicorp/nomad/api/services.go
+++ b/vendor/github.com/hashicorp/nomad/api/services.go
@@ -310,13 +310,9 @@ type ConsulMeshGateway struct {
 }
 
 func (c *ConsulMeshGateway) Canonicalize() {
-	if c == nil {
-		return
-	}
-
-	if c.Mode == "" {
-		c.Mode = "none"
-	}
+	// Mode may be empty string, indicating behavior will defer to Consul
+	// service-defaults config entry.
+	return
 }
 
 func (c *ConsulMeshGateway) Copy() *ConsulMeshGateway {
diff --git a/website/content/docs/job-specification/upstreams.mdx b/website/content/docs/job-specification/upstreams.mdx
index 1b540d219d1..91bb9bd6cdc 100644
--- a/website/content/docs/job-specification/upstreams.mdx
+++ b/website/content/docs/job-specification/upstreams.mdx
@@ -94,8 +94,8 @@ job "countdash" {
 
 ### `mesh_gateway` Parameters
 
-- `mode` `(string: "default")` - The mode of operation in which to use [Connect Mesh Gateways][mesh_gateways]
-Defaults to the mode as determined by the Consul [service-defaults][service_defaults_mode]
+- `mode` `(string: "")` - The mode of operation in which to use [Connect Mesh Gateways][mesh_gateways].
+  If left unset, the mode will default to the mode as determined by the Consul [service-defaults][service_defaults_mode]
   configuration for the service. Can be configured with the following modes:
   - `local` - In this mode the Connect proxy makes its outbound connection to a
   gateway running in the same datacenter. That gateway is then responsible for