diff --git a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/ArrayField.php b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/ArrayField.php
index e68dd53df..a508df868 100644
--- a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/ArrayField.php
+++ b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/ArrayField.php
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ class ArrayField extends BaseField
             // initialize field with new internal id and defined default value
             $node->setInternalReference($container_node->__reference.".".$key);
             $node->applyDefault();
+            $node->setChanged();
             $container_node->addChildNode($key, $node);
         }
 
diff --git a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/BaseField.php b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/BaseField.php
index 7a0289be7..7974f0b40 100644
--- a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/BaseField.php
+++ b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/models/OPNsense/Base/FieldTypes/BaseField.php
@@ -256,6 +256,14 @@ abstract class BaseField
         $this->internalValue = $value;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * force field to act as changed, used after cloning.
+     */
+    public function setChanged()
+    {
+        $this->internalInitialValue = true;
+    }
+
     /**
      * check if field content has changed
      * @return bool change indicator
@@ -452,16 +460,16 @@ abstract class BaseField
      */
     public function setDefault($value)
     {
+        $this->internalValue = $value;
         $this->internalDefaultValue = $value;
-        $this->setValue($value);
     }
 
     /**
-     * (re)Apply default value
+     * (re)Apply default value without changing the initial value of the field
      */
     public function applyDefault()
     {
-        $this->setValue($this->internalDefaultValue);
+        $this->internalValue = $this->internalDefaultValue;
     }
 
     /**