diff --git a/lib/modules/inventory/distributed-service/all-services-wrapper.nix b/lib/modules/inventory/distributed-service/all-services-wrapper.nix
index 71ab3b5aa..30c22414e 100644
--- a/lib/modules/inventory/distributed-service/all-services-wrapper.nix
+++ b/lib/modules/inventory/distributed-service/all-services-wrapper.nix
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ in
           {
             options = {
               instances = lib.mkOption {
+                default = { };
                 # instances.<instanceName>...
                 type = types.attrsOf (submoduleWith {
                   modules = [
@@ -57,6 +58,7 @@ in
               };
               # instances.<machineName>...
               machines = lib.mkOption {
+                default = { };
                 type = types.attrsOf (submoduleWith {
                   modules = [
                     config.exportsModule