diff --git a/fail2ban/client/actionreader.py b/fail2ban/client/actionreader.py
index b11deaba..6b0334ac 100644
--- a/fail2ban/client/actionreader.py
+++ b/fail2ban/client/actionreader.py
@@ -34,11 +34,11 @@ logSys = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 class ActionReader(DefinitionInitConfigReader):
 
 	_configOpts = [
-		["string", "actionstart", ""],
-		["string", "actionstop", ""],
-		["string", "actioncheck", ""],
-		["string", "actionban", ""],
-		["string", "actionunban", ""],
+		["string", "actionstart", None],
+		["string", "actionstop", None],
+		["string", "actioncheck", None],
+		["string", "actionban", None],
+		["string", "actionunban", None],
 	]
 
 	def __init__(self, file_, jailName, initOpts, **kwargs):
diff --git a/fail2ban/client/configreader.py b/fail2ban/client/configreader.py
index dacf3e57..51ca6948 100644
--- a/fail2ban/client/configreader.py
+++ b/fail2ban/client/configreader.py
@@ -120,6 +120,10 @@ class ConfigReader(SafeConfigParserWithIncludes):
 					logSys.warning("'%s' not defined in '%s'. Using default one: %r"
 								% (option[1], sec, option[2]))
 					values[option[1]] = option[2]
+				else:
+					logSys.debug(
+						"Non essential option '%s' not defined in '%s'.",
+						option[1], sec)
 			except ValueError:
 				logSys.warning("Wrong value for '" + option[1] + "' in '" + sec +
 							"'. Using default one: '" + `option[2]` + "'")
diff --git a/fail2ban/client/filterreader.py b/fail2ban/client/filterreader.py
index 612fd350..5a11dc41 100644
--- a/fail2ban/client/filterreader.py
+++ b/fail2ban/client/filterreader.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ logSys = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 class FilterReader(DefinitionInitConfigReader):
 
 	_configOpts = [
-		["string", "ignoreregex", ""],
+		["string", "ignoreregex", None],
 		["string", "failregex", ""],
 	]
 
diff --git a/fail2ban/client/jailreader.py b/fail2ban/client/jailreader.py
index 42c04ffb..5735b021 100644
--- a/fail2ban/client/jailreader.py
+++ b/fail2ban/client/jailreader.py
@@ -68,7 +68,8 @@ class JailReader(ConfigReader):
 		return out
 	
 	def isEnabled(self):
-		return self.__force_enable or ( self.__opts and self.__opts["enabled"] )
+		return self.__force_enable or (
+			self.__opts and self.__opts.get("enabled", False))
 
 	@staticmethod
 	def _glob(path):
@@ -85,14 +86,14 @@ class JailReader(ConfigReader):
 		return pathList
 
 	def getOptions(self):
-		opts = [["bool", "enabled", "false"],
-				["string", "logpath", "/var/log/messages"],
-				["string", "logencoding", "auto"],
+		opts = [["bool", "enabled", False],
+				["string", "logpath", None],
+				["string", "logencoding", None],
 				["string", "backend", "auto"],
-				["int", "maxretry", 3],
-				["int", "findtime", 600],
-				["int", "bantime", 600],
-				["string", "usedns", "warn"],
+				["int", "maxretry", None],
+				["int", "findtime", None],
+				["int", "bantime", None],
+				["string", "usedns", None],
 				["string", "failregex", None],
 				["string", "ignoreregex", None],
 				["string", "ignorecommand", None],
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/filter.py b/fail2ban/server/filter.py
index c82395ea..fb5aeb3d 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/filter.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/filter.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ class Filter(JailThread):
 		## Use DNS setting
 		self.setUseDns(useDns)
 		## The amount of time to look back.
-		self.__findTime = 6000
+		self.__findTime = 600
 		## The ignore IP list.
 		self.__ignoreIpList = []
 		## Size of line buffer
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py b/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py
index fd65b014..ce19a50e 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py
@@ -349,31 +349,9 @@ class JailsReaderTest(LogCaptureTestCase):
 		self.maxDiff = None
 		self.assertEqual(sorted(comm_commands),
 			sorted([['add', 'emptyaction', 'auto'],
-			 ['set', 'emptyaction', 'usedns', 'warn'],
-			 ['set', 'emptyaction', 'maxretry', 3],
-			 ['set', 'emptyaction', 'findtime', 600],
-			 ['set', 'emptyaction', 'logencoding', 'auto'],
-			 ['set', 'emptyaction', 'bantime', 600],
-			 ['add', 'special', 'auto'],
-			 ['set', 'special', 'usedns', 'warn'],
-			 ['set', 'special', 'maxretry', 3],
-			 ['set', 'special', 'addfailregex', '<IP>'],
-			 ['set', 'special', 'findtime', 600],
-			 ['set', 'special', 'logencoding', 'auto'],
-			 ['set', 'special', 'bantime', 600],
 			 ['add', 'missinglogfiles', 'auto'],
-			 ['set', 'missinglogfiles', 'usedns', 'warn'],
-			 ['set', 'missinglogfiles', 'maxretry', 3],
-			 ['set', 'missinglogfiles', 'findtime', 600],
-			 ['set', 'missinglogfiles', 'logencoding', 'auto'],
-			 ['set', 'missinglogfiles', 'bantime', 600],
 			 ['set', 'missinglogfiles', 'addfailregex', '<IP>'],
 			 ['add', 'brokenaction', 'auto'],
-			 ['set', 'brokenaction', 'usedns', 'warn'],
-			 ['set', 'brokenaction', 'maxretry', 3],
-			 ['set', 'brokenaction', 'findtime', 600],
-			 ['set', 'brokenaction', 'logencoding', 'auto'],
-			 ['set', 'brokenaction', 'bantime', 600],
 			 ['set', 'brokenaction', 'addfailregex', '<IP>'],
 			 ['set', 'brokenaction', 'addaction', 'brokenaction'],
 			 ['set',
@@ -382,23 +360,9 @@ class JailsReaderTest(LogCaptureTestCase):
 			  'brokenaction',
 			  'actionban',
 			  'hit with big stick <ip>'],
-			 ['set', 'brokenaction', 'action', 'brokenaction',
-				'actionstop', ''],
-			 ['set', 'brokenaction', 'action', 'brokenaction',
-				'actionstart', ''],
-			 ['set', 'brokenaction', 'action', 'brokenaction',
-				'actionunban', ''],
-			 ['set', 'brokenaction', 'action', 'brokenaction',
-				'actioncheck', ''],
 			 ['add', 'parse_to_end_of_jail.conf', 'auto'],
-			 ['set', 'parse_to_end_of_jail.conf', 'usedns', 'warn'],
-			 ['set', 'parse_to_end_of_jail.conf', 'maxretry', 3],
-			 ['set', 'parse_to_end_of_jail.conf', 'findtime', 600],
-			 ['set', 'parse_to_end_of_jail.conf', 'logencoding', 'auto'],
-			 ['set', 'parse_to_end_of_jail.conf', 'bantime', 600],
 			 ['set', 'parse_to_end_of_jail.conf', 'addfailregex', '<IP>'],
 			 ['start', 'emptyaction'],
-			 ['start', 'special'],
 			 ['start', 'missinglogfiles'],
 			 ['start', 'brokenaction'],
 			 ['start', 'parse_to_end_of_jail.conf'],]))
@@ -572,6 +536,7 @@ class JailsReaderTest(LogCaptureTestCase):
 		jailfd = open(os.path.join(basedir, "jail.conf"), 'w')
 		jailfd.write("""
 [testjail1]
+enabled = true
 action = testaction1[actname=test1]
          testaction1[actname=test2]
          testaction.py
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/config/jail.conf b/fail2ban/tests/config/jail.conf
index 525308e3..0f6a28f0 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/config/jail.conf
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/config/jail.conf
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ ignoreregex =
 ignoreip =
 
 [missinglogfiles]
+enabled = true
 logpath = /weapons/of/mass/destruction
 
 [brokenactiondef]
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ enabled = true
 action = brokenaction
 
 [missingbitsjail]
+enabled = true
 filter = catchallthebadies
 action = thefunkychickendance