diff --git a/homeassistant/data_entry_flow.py b/homeassistant/data_entry_flow.py
index 8fe4294c79a..2328c2e9835 100644
--- a/homeassistant/data_entry_flow.py
+++ b/homeassistant/data_entry_flow.py
@@ -919,7 +919,7 @@ class section:
         {
             vol.Optional("collapsed", default=False): bool,
             vol.Optional("multiple", default=False): bool,
-            vol.Optional("default", default=[]): list[dict[str, Any]],
+            vol.Optional("default"): list[dict[str, Any]],
         },
     )
 
diff --git a/homeassistant/helpers/config_validation.py b/homeassistant/helpers/config_validation.py
index 365024a537e..2be633bc084 100644
--- a/homeassistant/helpers/config_validation.py
+++ b/homeassistant/helpers/config_validation.py
@@ -1146,7 +1146,7 @@ def _custom_serializer(schema: Any, *, allow_section: bool) -> Any:
             ),
             "expanded": not schema.options["collapsed"],
             "multiple": schema.options["multiple"],
-            "default": schema.options["default"],
+            "default": schema.options.get("default"),
         }
 
     if isinstance(schema, multi_select):