diff --git a/plugins/experimental/rate_limit/limiter.h b/plugins/experimental/rate_limit/limiter.h
index 2e40d5e140b..6696274fafc 100644
--- a/plugins/experimental/rate_limit/limiter.h
+++ b/plugins/experimental/rate_limit/limiter.h
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ template <class T> class RateLimiter
   using self_type = RateLimiter;
 
 public:
-  RateLimiter()                           = default;
+  RateLimiter() { _metrics.fill(TS_ERROR); }
   RateLimiter(self_type &&)               = delete;
   self_type &operator=(const self_type &) = delete;
   self_type &operator=(self_type &&)      = delete;