diff --git a/src/rgw/rgw_common.cc b/src/rgw/rgw_common.cc
index 68fb9a2927860..1a59ba02999f5 100644
--- a/src/rgw/rgw_common.cc
+++ b/src/rgw/rgw_common.cc
@@ -2994,7 +2994,9 @@ void RGWAccessKey::decode_json(JSONObj *obj) {
       subuser = user.substr(pos + 1);
     }
   }
-  JSONDecoder::decode_json("active", active, obj);
+  if (bool tmp = false; JSONDecoder::decode_json("active", tmp, obj)) {
+    active = tmp; // update only if "active" is present
+  }
   JSONDecoder::decode_json("create_date", create_date, obj);
 }