diff --git a/frigate/config.py b/frigate/config.py
index 707d38aad..f46096efd 100644
--- a/frigate/config.py
+++ b/frigate/config.py
@@ -472,8 +472,8 @@ class CameraConfig(BaseModel):
     )
     motion: Optional[MotionConfig] = Field(title="Motion detection configuration.")
     detect: Optional[DetectConfig] = Field(title="Object detection configuration.")
-    timestamp_style: Optional[TimestampStyleConfig] = Field(
-        title="Timestamp style configuration."
+    timestamp_style: TimestampStyleConfig = Field(
+        default_factory=TimestampStyleConfig, title="Timestamp style configuration."
     )
 
     def __init__(self, **config):
diff --git a/frigate/object_processing.py b/frigate/object_processing.py
index 9f0b3f520..47b5ab5d3 100644
--- a/frigate/object_processing.py
+++ b/frigate/object_processing.py
@@ -404,6 +404,7 @@ class CameraState:
                 )
 
         if draw_options.get("timestamp"):
+            color = self.camera_config.timestamp_style.color
             draw_timestamp(
                 frame_copy,
                 frame_time,
@@ -411,7 +412,7 @@ class CameraState:
                 font_effect=self.camera_config.timestamp_style.effect,
                 font_scale=self.camera_config.timestamp_style.scale,
                 font_thickness=self.camera_config.timestamp_style.thickness,
-                font_color=self.camera_config.timestamp_style.color,
+                font_color=(color.red, color.green, color.blue),
                 position=self.camera_config.timestamp_style.position,
             )