diff --git a/api/v1beta2/awsmachine_webhook.go b/api/v1beta2/awsmachine_webhook.go
index f63e2707ff..931ecd5df2 100644
--- a/api/v1beta2/awsmachine_webhook.go
+++ b/api/v1beta2/awsmachine_webhook.go
@@ -451,14 +451,14 @@ func (*awsMachineWebhook) Default(_ context.Context, obj runtime.Object) error {
 		r.Spec.CloudInit.SecureSecretsBackend = SecretBackendSecretsManager
 	}
 
+	if r.ignitionEnabled() && r.Spec.Ignition.StorageType == "" {
+		r.Spec.Ignition.StorageType = DefaultIgnitionStorageType
+	}
 	// Defaults the version field if StorageType is not set to `UnencryptedUserData`.
 	// When using `UnencryptedUserData` the version field is ignored because the userdata defines its version itself.
 	if r.ignitionEnabled() && r.Spec.Ignition.Version == "" && r.Spec.Ignition.StorageType != IgnitionStorageTypeOptionUnencryptedUserData {
 		r.Spec.Ignition.Version = DefaultIgnitionVersion
 	}
-	if r.ignitionEnabled() && r.Spec.Ignition.StorageType == "" {
-		r.Spec.Ignition.StorageType = DefaultIgnitionStorageType
-	}
 
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/exp/api/v1beta2/awsmachinepool_webhook.go b/exp/api/v1beta2/awsmachinepool_webhook.go
index eac0f675fa..8ebed9ad91 100644
--- a/exp/api/v1beta2/awsmachinepool_webhook.go
+++ b/exp/api/v1beta2/awsmachinepool_webhook.go
@@ -314,14 +314,14 @@ func (*AWSMachinePoolWebhook) Default(ctx context.Context, obj runtime.Object) e
 		r.Spec.DefaultInstanceWarmup.Duration = 300 * time.Second
 	}
 
+	if r.ignitionEnabled() && r.Spec.Ignition.StorageType == "" {
+		r.Spec.Ignition.StorageType = infrav1.DefaultMachinePoolIgnitionStorageType
+	}
 	// Defaults the version field if StorageType is not set to `UnencryptedUserData`.
 	// When using `UnencryptedUserData` the version field is ignored because the userdata defines its version itself.
 	if r.ignitionEnabled() && r.Spec.Ignition.Version == "" && r.Spec.Ignition.StorageType != infrav1.IgnitionStorageTypeOptionUnencryptedUserData {
 		r.Spec.Ignition.Version = infrav1.DefaultIgnitionVersion
 	}
-	if r.ignitionEnabled() && r.Spec.Ignition.StorageType == "" {
-		r.Spec.Ignition.StorageType = infrav1.DefaultMachinePoolIgnitionStorageType
-	}
 
 	return nil
 }