diff --git a/samples/sample-complete.xml b/samples/sample-complete.xml
index ec36cd3..c8ec91f 100644
--- a/samples/sample-complete.xml
+++ b/samples/sample-complete.xml
@@ -39,10 +39,16 @@ All options in other sections are optional
   
   <!-- ID of the service. It should be unique accross the Windows system-->
   <id>myapp</id>
+
   <!-- Display name of the service -->
+  <!--
   <name>MyApp Service (powered by WinSW)</name>
+  -->
+
   <!-- Service description -->
+  <!--
   <description>This service is a service created from a sample configuration</description>
+  -->
   
   <!-- Path to the executable, which should be started -->
   <executable>%BASE%\myExecutable.exe</executable>
diff --git a/samples/sample-minimal.xml b/samples/sample-minimal.xml
index 929e751..87d9f3d 100644
--- a/samples/sample-minimal.xml
+++ b/samples/sample-minimal.xml
@@ -36,10 +36,6 @@
   
   <!-- ID of the service. It should be unique across the Windows system-->
   <id>myapp</id>
-  <!-- Display name of the service -->
-  <name>MyApp Service (powered by WinSW)</name>
-  <!-- Service description -->
-  <description>This service is a service created from a minimal configuration</description>
   
   <!-- Path to the executable, which should be started -->
   <!-- CAUTION: Don't put arguments here. Use <arguments> instead. -->
diff --git a/src/WinSW.Core/Configuration/DefaultSettings.cs b/src/WinSW.Core/Configuration/DefaultSettings.cs
index 9878291..470e2cb 100644
--- a/src/WinSW.Core/Configuration/DefaultSettings.cs
+++ b/src/WinSW.Core/Configuration/DefaultSettings.cs
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ namespace WinSW.Configuration
     {
         public string Id => throw new InvalidOperationException(nameof(this.Id) + " must be specified.");
 
-        public string Caption => throw new InvalidOperationException(nameof(this.Caption) + " must be specified.");
+        public string Caption => string.Empty;
 
-        public string Description => throw new InvalidOperationException(nameof(this.Description) + " must be specified.");
+        public string Description => string.Empty;
 
         public string Executable => throw new InvalidOperationException(nameof(this.Executable) + " must be specified.");
 
diff --git a/src/WinSW.Core/ServiceDescriptor.cs b/src/WinSW.Core/ServiceDescriptor.cs
index 14ca121..fd92ac6 100644
--- a/src/WinSW.Core/ServiceDescriptor.cs
+++ b/src/WinSW.Core/ServiceDescriptor.cs
@@ -557,9 +557,9 @@ namespace WinSW
 
         public string Id => this.SingleElement("id");
 
-        public string Caption => this.SingleElement("name");
+        public string Caption => this.SingleElement("name", true) ?? Defaults.Caption;
 
-        public string Description => this.SingleElement("description");
+        public string Description => this.SingleElement("description", true) ?? Defaults.Description;
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Start mode of the Service
diff --git a/src/WinSW.Tests/Configuration/ExamplesTest.cs b/src/WinSW.Tests/Configuration/ExamplesTest.cs
index e76d60a..7e102fb 100644
--- a/src/WinSW.Tests/Configuration/ExamplesTest.cs
+++ b/src/WinSW.Tests/Configuration/ExamplesTest.cs
@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@ namespace WinSW.Tests.Configuration
             ServiceDescriptor desc = Load("complete");
 
             Assert.Equal("myapp", desc.Id);
-            Assert.Equal("MyApp Service (powered by WinSW)", desc.Caption);
-            Assert.Equal("This service is a service created from a sample configuration", desc.Description);
             Assert.Equal("%BASE%\\myExecutable.exe", desc.Executable);
 
             ServiceDescriptorAssert.AssertAllOptionalPropertiesAreDefault(desc);
@@ -31,8 +29,6 @@ namespace WinSW.Tests.Configuration
             ServiceDescriptor desc = Load("minimal");
 
             Assert.Equal("myapp", desc.Id);
-            Assert.Equal("MyApp Service (powered by WinSW)", desc.Caption);
-            Assert.Equal("This service is a service created from a minimal configuration", desc.Description);
             Assert.Equal("%BASE%\\myExecutable.exe", desc.Executable);
 
             ServiceDescriptorAssert.AssertAllOptionalPropertiesAreDefault(desc);
diff --git a/src/WinSW.Tests/Util/ServiceDescriptorAssert.cs b/src/WinSW.Tests/Util/ServiceDescriptorAssert.cs
index e7940e6..ed6921e 100644
--- a/src/WinSW.Tests/Util/ServiceDescriptorAssert.cs
+++ b/src/WinSW.Tests/Util/ServiceDescriptorAssert.cs
@@ -54,8 +54,6 @@ namespace WinSW.Tests.Util
             {
                 var properties = AllProperties;
                 properties.Remove("Id");
-                properties.Remove("Caption");
-                properties.Remove("Description");
                 properties.Remove("Executable");
                 return properties;
             }
diff --git a/src/WinSW/Program.cs b/src/WinSW/Program.cs
index 1e20936..06f5497 100644
--- a/src/WinSW/Program.cs
+++ b/src/WinSW/Program.cs
@@ -378,7 +378,11 @@ namespace WinSW
                     username,
                     password);
 
-                sc.SetDescription(descriptor.Description);
+                string description = descriptor.Description;
+                if (description.Length != 0)
+                {
+                    sc.SetDescription(description);
+                }
 
                 SC_ACTION[] actions = descriptor.FailureActions;
                 if (actions.Length > 0)