diff --git a/spring-session/src/main/java/org/springframework/session/data/redis/RedisOperationsSessionRepository.java b/spring-session/src/main/java/org/springframework/session/data/redis/RedisOperationsSessionRepository.java
index 902975be..8b49619a 100644
--- a/spring-session/src/main/java/org/springframework/session/data/redis/RedisOperationsSessionRepository.java
+++ b/spring-session/src/main/java/org/springframework/session/data/redis/RedisOperationsSessionRepository.java
@@ -298,6 +298,7 @@ public class RedisOperationsSessionRepository implements SessionRepository<Redis
         template.setKeySerializer(new StringRedisSerializer());
         template.setHashKeySerializer(new StringRedisSerializer());
         template.setConnectionFactory(connectionFactory);
+        template.afterPropertiesSet(); //Force initialization of default values
         return template;
     }
 
@@ -404,4 +405,4 @@ public class RedisOperationsSessionRepository implements SessionRepository<Redis
             expirationPolicy.onExpirationUpdated(originalLastAccessTime, this);
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}