diff --git a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/nb/api/config/standard/ConfigModel.java b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/nb/api/config/standard/ConfigModel.java
index 7800efac9..d026ed168 100644
--- a/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/nb/api/config/standard/ConfigModel.java
+++ b/nb-api/src/main/java/io/nosqlbench/nb/api/config/standard/ConfigModel.java
@@ -172,6 +172,9 @@ public class ConfigModel implements NBConfigModel {
                     break;
                 }
             }
+            if (activename==null) {
+                activename = param.getNames().get(0);
+            }
             if (cval == null && param.isRequired()) {
                 activename = param.getNames().get(0);
                 cval = param.getDefaultValue();  // We know this will be valid. It was validated, correct?