diff --git a/api/config_entry.go b/api/config_entry.go
index 0a0e5e14cb..2773e25053 100644
--- a/api/config_entry.go
+++ b/api/config_entry.go
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ type ProxyConfigEntry struct {
 	Config           map[string]interface{}  `json:",omitempty"`
 	MeshGateway      MeshGatewayConfig       `json:",omitempty" alias:"mesh_gateway"`
 	Expose           ExposeConfig            `json:",omitempty"`
-	AccessLogs       AccessLogsConfig        `json:",omitempty"`
+	AccessLogs       *AccessLogsConfig       `json:",omitempty"`
 
 	Meta        map[string]string `json:",omitempty"`
 	CreateIndex uint64
diff --git a/api/config_entry_test.go b/api/config_entry_test.go
index ca8fbfcb97..30f7510402 100644
--- a/api/config_entry_test.go
+++ b/api/config_entry_test.go
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ func TestDecodeConfigEntry(t *testing.T) {
 					OutboundListenerPort: 808,
 					DialedDirectly:       true,
 				},
-				AccessLogs: AccessLogsConfig{
+				AccessLogs: &AccessLogsConfig{
 					Enabled:             true,
 					DisableListenerLogs: true,
 					Type:                FileLogSinkType,