diff --git a/pkg/server/cert.go b/pkg/server/cert.go
index bde425196ea3..8591908f5dbc 100644
--- a/pkg/server/cert.go
+++ b/pkg/server/cert.go
@@ -75,6 +75,10 @@ func caCertReplace(server *config.Control, buf io.ReadCloser, force bool) error
 		return err
 	}
 
+	if err := defaultBootstrap(server, tmpServer); err != nil {
+		return errors.Wrap(err, "failed to set default bootstrap values")
+	}
+
 	if err := validateBootstrap(server, tmpServer); err != nil {
 		if !force {
 			return errors.Wrap(err, "failed to validate new CA certificates and keys")
@@ -85,27 +89,16 @@ func caCertReplace(server *config.Control, buf io.ReadCloser, force bool) error
 	return cluster.Save(context.TODO(), tmpServer, true)
 }
 
-// validateBootstrap checks the new certs and keys to ensure that the cluster would function properly were they to be used.
-// - The new leaf CA certificates must be verifiable using the same root and intermediate certs as the current leaf CA certificates.
-// - The new service account signing key bundle must include the currently active signing key.
-func validateBootstrap(oldServer, newServer *config.Control) error {
-	errs := []error{}
-
+// defaultBootstrap provides default values from the existing bootstrap fields
+// if the value is not tagged for rotation, or the current value is empty.
+func defaultBootstrap(oldServer, newServer *config.Control) error {
 	// Use reflection to iterate over all of the bootstrap fields, checking files at each of the new paths.
 	oldMeta := reflect.ValueOf(&oldServer.Runtime.ControlRuntimeBootstrap).Elem()
 	newMeta := reflect.ValueOf(&newServer.Runtime.ControlRuntimeBootstrap).Elem()
 	fields := []reflect.StructField{}
 
+	// use the existing file if the new file does not exist or is empty
 	for _, field := range reflect.VisibleFields(oldMeta.Type()) {
-		// Only handle bootstrap fields tagged for rotation
-		if field.Tag.Get("rotate") != "true" {
-			continue
-		}
-		fields = append(fields, field)
-	}
-
-	// first pass: use the existing file if the new file does not exist or is empty
-	for _, field := range fields {
 		newVal := newMeta.FieldByName(field.Name)
 		info, err := os.Stat(newVal.String())
 		if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
@@ -113,20 +106,35 @@ func validateBootstrap(oldServer, newServer *config.Control) error {
 			continue
 		}
 
-		if info == nil || info.Size() == 0 {
+		if field.Tag.Get("rotate") != "true" || info == nil || info.Size() == 0 {
 			if newVal.CanSet() {
 				oldVal := oldMeta.FieldByName(field.Name)
-				logrus.Infof("certificate: %s not provided; using current value %s", field.Name, oldVal)
+				logrus.Infof("Using current data for %s: %s", field.Name, oldVal)
 				newVal.Set(oldVal)
 			} else {
 				errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("cannot use current data for %s; field is not settable", field.Name))
 			}
 		}
-
 	}
+	return errs
+}
 
-	// second pass: validate file contents
-	for _, field := range fields {
+// validateBootstrap checks the new certs and keys to ensure that the cluster would function properly were they to be used.
+// - The new leaf CA certificates must be verifiable using the same root and intermediate certs as the current leaf CA certificates.
+// - The new service account signing key bundle must include the currently active signing key.
+func validateBootstrap(oldServer, newServer *config.Control) error {
+	errs := []error{}
+
+	// Use reflection to iterate over all of the bootstrap fields, checking files at each of the new paths.
+	oldMeta := reflect.ValueOf(&oldServer.Runtime.ControlRuntimeBootstrap).Elem()
+	newMeta := reflect.ValueOf(&newServer.Runtime.ControlRuntimeBootstrap).Elem()
+	fields := []reflect.StructField{}
+
+	for _, field := range reflect.VisibleFields(oldMeta.Type()) {
+		// Only handle bootstrap fields tagged for rotation
+		if field.Tag.Get("rotate") != "true" {
+			continue
+		}
 		oldVal := oldMeta.FieldByName(field.Name)
 		newVal := newMeta.FieldByName(field.Name)