diff --git a/spring-cloud-netflix-eureka-server/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/netflix/eureka/server/EurekaServerConfigBean.java b/spring-cloud-netflix-eureka-server/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/netflix/eureka/server/EurekaServerConfigBean.java
index 9a25f80ce..d618db7fe 100644
--- a/spring-cloud-netflix-eureka-server/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/netflix/eureka/server/EurekaServerConfigBean.java
+++ b/spring-cloud-netflix-eureka-server/src/main/java/org/springframework/cloud/netflix/eureka/server/EurekaServerConfigBean.java
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ public class EurekaServerConfigBean implements EurekaServerConfig {
 
 	private String[] remoteRegionUrls;
 
-	private Map<String, Set<String>> remoteRegionAppWhitelist;
+	private Map<String, Set<String>> remoteRegionAppWhitelist = new HashMap<>();
 
 	private int remoteRegionRegistryFetchInterval = 30;