diff --git a/.changelog/7868.txt b/.changelog/7868.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9d86b7884dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelog/7868.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+```release-note:bug
+container: fixed node auto-provisioning not working when `auto_provisioning_defaults.management` is not provided on `google_container_cluster`
+```
diff --git a/google/resource_container_cluster.go b/google/resource_container_cluster.go
index aabf517d9d3..499f45a5971 100644
--- a/google/resource_container_cluster.go
+++ b/google/resource_container_cluster.go
@@ -3793,7 +3793,7 @@ func expandStandardRolloutPolicy(configured interface{}) *container.StandardRoll
 func expandManagement(configured interface{}) *container.NodeManagement {
 	l, ok := configured.([]interface{})
 	if !ok || l == nil || len(l) == 0 || l[0] == nil {
-		return &container.NodeManagement{}
+		return nil
 	}
 	config := l[0].(map[string]interface{})