diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 8d669821..7c3d317d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -48,4 +48,6 @@ jobs:
         uses: golangci/golangci-lint-action@v9
         with:
           # Required: the version of golangci-lint is required and must be specified without patch version: we always use the latest patch version.
-          version: v2.6
+          # v2.9 is built with Go 1.26 so it can type-check deps (e.g. golang.org/x/crypto, x/net) that include go1.26-only files.
+          version: v2.9
+          skip-cache: true
diff --git a/pkg/inputunifi/interface.go b/pkg/inputunifi/interface.go
index ffa5ac92..8ba5ae2c 100644
--- a/pkg/inputunifi/interface.go
+++ b/pkg/inputunifi/interface.go
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ func (u *InputUnifi) Initialize(l poller.Logger) error {
 	}
 
 	if len(u.Controllers) == 0 {
+		u.setDefaults(&u.Default)
 		u.Logf("No controllers configured. Polling dynamic controllers only! Defaults:")
 		u.logController(&u.Default)
 	}
@@ -108,6 +109,7 @@ func (u *InputUnifi) DebugInput() (bool, error) {
 	}
 
 	if len(u.Controllers) == 0 {
+		u.setDefaults(&u.Default)
 		u.Logf("No controllers configured. Polling dynamic controllers only! Defaults:")
 		u.logController(&u.Default)
 	}