diff --git a/python/PyQt6/core/auto_generated/scalebar/qgsdoubleboxscalebarrenderer.sip.in b/python/PyQt6/core/auto_generated/scalebar/qgsdoubleboxscalebarrenderer.sip.in
index f19d66a7c39..a7cedd17f04 100644
--- a/python/PyQt6/core/auto_generated/scalebar/qgsdoubleboxscalebarrenderer.sip.in
+++ b/python/PyQt6/core/auto_generated/scalebar/qgsdoubleboxscalebarrenderer.sip.in
@@ -38,13 +38,6 @@ Double box with alternating colors.
 
     virtual bool applyDefaultSettings( QgsScaleBarSettings &settings ) const;
 
-%Docstring
-Applies any default settings relating to the scalebar to the passed ``settings`` object.
-
-Returns ``True`` if settings were applied.
-
-.. versionadded:: 3.42
-%End
 };
 
 /************************************************************************
diff --git a/python/PyQt6/core/auto_generated/scalebar/qgssingleboxscalebarrenderer.sip.in b/python/PyQt6/core/auto_generated/scalebar/qgssingleboxscalebarrenderer.sip.in
index 05216af6bc5..4a828b2e55e 100644
--- a/python/PyQt6/core/auto_generated/scalebar/qgssingleboxscalebarrenderer.sip.in
+++ b/python/PyQt6/core/auto_generated/scalebar/qgssingleboxscalebarrenderer.sip.in
@@ -39,13 +39,6 @@ color for the segments.
 
     virtual bool applyDefaultSettings( QgsScaleBarSettings &settings ) const;
 
-%Docstring
-Applies any default settings relating to the scalebar to the passed ``settings`` object.
-
-Returns ``True`` if settings were applied.
-
-.. versionadded:: 3.42
-%End
 };
 
 /************************************************************************
diff --git a/python/core/auto_generated/scalebar/qgsdoubleboxscalebarrenderer.sip.in b/python/core/auto_generated/scalebar/qgsdoubleboxscalebarrenderer.sip.in
index f19d66a7c39..a7cedd17f04 100644
--- a/python/core/auto_generated/scalebar/qgsdoubleboxscalebarrenderer.sip.in
+++ b/python/core/auto_generated/scalebar/qgsdoubleboxscalebarrenderer.sip.in
@@ -38,13 +38,6 @@ Double box with alternating colors.
 
     virtual bool applyDefaultSettings( QgsScaleBarSettings &settings ) const;
 
-%Docstring
-Applies any default settings relating to the scalebar to the passed ``settings`` object.
-
-Returns ``True`` if settings were applied.
-
-.. versionadded:: 3.42
-%End
 };
 
 /************************************************************************
diff --git a/python/core/auto_generated/scalebar/qgssingleboxscalebarrenderer.sip.in b/python/core/auto_generated/scalebar/qgssingleboxscalebarrenderer.sip.in
index 05216af6bc5..4a828b2e55e 100644
--- a/python/core/auto_generated/scalebar/qgssingleboxscalebarrenderer.sip.in
+++ b/python/core/auto_generated/scalebar/qgssingleboxscalebarrenderer.sip.in
@@ -39,13 +39,6 @@ color for the segments.
 
     virtual bool applyDefaultSettings( QgsScaleBarSettings &settings ) const;
 
-%Docstring
-Applies any default settings relating to the scalebar to the passed ``settings`` object.
-
-Returns ``True`` if settings were applied.
-
-.. versionadded:: 3.42
-%End
 };
 
 /************************************************************************
diff --git a/src/core/scalebar/qgsdoubleboxscalebarrenderer.cpp b/src/core/scalebar/qgsdoubleboxscalebarrenderer.cpp
index 9af05c3ce97..d6cdba55722 100644
--- a/src/core/scalebar/qgsdoubleboxscalebarrenderer.cpp
+++ b/src/core/scalebar/qgsdoubleboxscalebarrenderer.cpp
@@ -194,21 +194,26 @@ void QgsDoubleBoxScaleBarRenderer::draw( QgsRenderContext &context, const QgsSca
 
 bool QgsDoubleBoxScaleBarRenderer::applyDefaultSettings( QgsScaleBarSettings &settings ) const
 {
-  // restore the fill symbols by default
-  std::unique_ptr< QgsFillSymbol > fillSymbol = std::make_unique< QgsFillSymbol >();
-  std::unique_ptr< QgsSimpleFillSymbolLayer > fillSymbolLayer = std::make_unique< QgsSimpleFillSymbolLayer >();
-  fillSymbolLayer->setColor( QColor( 0, 0, 0 ) );
-  fillSymbolLayer->setBrushStyle( Qt::SolidPattern );
-  fillSymbolLayer->setStrokeStyle( Qt::SolidLine );
-  fillSymbol->changeSymbolLayer( 0, fillSymbolLayer.release() );
-  settings.setFillSymbol( fillSymbol.release() );
+  QgsSimpleFillSymbolLayer *fill = qgis::down_cast< QgsSimpleFillSymbolLayer * >( settings.fillSymbol()->symbolLayers().at( 0 ) );
 
-  fillSymbol = std::make_unique< QgsFillSymbol >();
-  fillSymbolLayer = std::make_unique< QgsSimpleFillSymbolLayer >();
-  fillSymbolLayer->setColor( QColor( 255, 255, 255 ) );
-  fillSymbolLayer->setStrokeStyle( Qt::NoPen );
-  fillSymbol->changeSymbolLayer( 0, fillSymbolLayer.release() );
-  settings.setAlternateFillSymbol( fillSymbol.release() );
+  // restore the fill symbols by default
+  if ( fill && fill->brushStyle() == Qt::NoBrush )
+  {
+    std::unique_ptr< QgsFillSymbol > fillSymbol = std::make_unique< QgsFillSymbol >();
+    std::unique_ptr< QgsSimpleFillSymbolLayer > fillSymbolLayer = std::make_unique< QgsSimpleFillSymbolLayer >();
+    fillSymbolLayer->setColor( QColor( 0, 0, 0 ) );
+    fillSymbolLayer->setBrushStyle( Qt::SolidPattern );
+    fillSymbolLayer->setStrokeStyle( Qt::SolidLine );
+    fillSymbol->changeSymbolLayer( 0, fillSymbolLayer.release() );
+    settings.setFillSymbol( fillSymbol.release() );
+
+    fillSymbol = std::make_unique< QgsFillSymbol >();
+    fillSymbolLayer = std::make_unique< QgsSimpleFillSymbolLayer >();
+    fillSymbolLayer->setColor( QColor( 255, 255, 255 ) );
+    fillSymbolLayer->setStrokeStyle( Qt::NoPen );
+    fillSymbol->changeSymbolLayer( 0, fillSymbolLayer.release() );
+    settings.setAlternateFillSymbol( fillSymbol.release() );
+  }
 
   return true;
 }
diff --git a/src/core/scalebar/qgsdoubleboxscalebarrenderer.h b/src/core/scalebar/qgsdoubleboxscalebarrenderer.h
index 0521fd7f3f5..a3b9b8b844d 100644
--- a/src/core/scalebar/qgsdoubleboxscalebarrenderer.h
+++ b/src/core/scalebar/qgsdoubleboxscalebarrenderer.h
@@ -42,13 +42,6 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsDoubleBoxScaleBarRenderer: public QgsScaleBarRenderer
                const QgsScaleBarSettings &settings,
                const QgsScaleBarRenderer::ScaleBarContext &scaleContext ) const override;
 
-    /**
-     * Applies any default settings relating to the scalebar to the passed \a settings object.
-     *
-     * Returns TRUE if settings were applied.
-     *
-     * \since QGIS 3.42
-     */
     bool applyDefaultSettings( QgsScaleBarSettings &settings ) const override;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/core/scalebar/qgssingleboxscalebarrenderer.cpp b/src/core/scalebar/qgssingleboxscalebarrenderer.cpp
index 402f487b5dc..e92e9714057 100644
--- a/src/core/scalebar/qgssingleboxscalebarrenderer.cpp
+++ b/src/core/scalebar/qgssingleboxscalebarrenderer.cpp
@@ -160,21 +160,26 @@ void QgsSingleBoxScaleBarRenderer::draw( QgsRenderContext &context, const QgsSca
 
 bool QgsSingleBoxScaleBarRenderer::applyDefaultSettings( QgsScaleBarSettings &settings ) const
 {
-  // restore the fill symbols by default
-  std::unique_ptr< QgsFillSymbol > fillSymbol = std::make_unique< QgsFillSymbol >();
-  std::unique_ptr< QgsSimpleFillSymbolLayer > fillSymbolLayer = std::make_unique< QgsSimpleFillSymbolLayer >();
-  fillSymbolLayer->setColor( QColor( 0, 0, 0 ) );
-  fillSymbolLayer->setBrushStyle( Qt::SolidPattern );
-  fillSymbolLayer->setStrokeStyle( Qt::SolidLine );
-  fillSymbol->changeSymbolLayer( 0, fillSymbolLayer.release() );
-  settings.setFillSymbol( fillSymbol.release() );
+  QgsSimpleFillSymbolLayer *fill = qgis::down_cast< QgsSimpleFillSymbolLayer * >( settings.fillSymbol()->symbolLayers().at( 0 ) );
 
-  fillSymbol = std::make_unique< QgsFillSymbol >();
-  fillSymbolLayer = std::make_unique< QgsSimpleFillSymbolLayer >();
-  fillSymbolLayer->setColor( QColor( 255, 255, 255 ) );
-  fillSymbolLayer->setStrokeStyle( Qt::NoPen );
-  fillSymbol->changeSymbolLayer( 0, fillSymbolLayer.release() );
-  settings.setAlternateFillSymbol( fillSymbol.release() );
+  // restore the fill symbols by default
+  if ( fill && fill->brushStyle() == Qt::NoBrush )
+  {
+    std::unique_ptr< QgsFillSymbol > fillSymbol = std::make_unique< QgsFillSymbol >();
+    std::unique_ptr< QgsSimpleFillSymbolLayer > fillSymbolLayer = std::make_unique< QgsSimpleFillSymbolLayer >();
+    fillSymbolLayer->setColor( QColor( 0, 0, 0 ) );
+    fillSymbolLayer->setBrushStyle( Qt::SolidPattern );
+    fillSymbolLayer->setStrokeStyle( Qt::SolidLine );
+    fillSymbol->changeSymbolLayer( 0, fillSymbolLayer.release() );
+    settings.setFillSymbol( fillSymbol.release() );
+
+    fillSymbol = std::make_unique< QgsFillSymbol >();
+    fillSymbolLayer = std::make_unique< QgsSimpleFillSymbolLayer >();
+    fillSymbolLayer->setColor( QColor( 255, 255, 255 ) );
+    fillSymbolLayer->setStrokeStyle( Qt::NoPen );
+    fillSymbol->changeSymbolLayer( 0, fillSymbolLayer.release() );
+    settings.setAlternateFillSymbol( fillSymbol.release() );
+  }
 
   return true;
 }
diff --git a/src/core/scalebar/qgssingleboxscalebarrenderer.h b/src/core/scalebar/qgssingleboxscalebarrenderer.h
index 5072980dd38..ca99eb18e17 100644
--- a/src/core/scalebar/qgssingleboxscalebarrenderer.h
+++ b/src/core/scalebar/qgssingleboxscalebarrenderer.h
@@ -43,13 +43,6 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsSingleBoxScaleBarRenderer: public QgsScaleBarRenderer
                const QgsScaleBarSettings &settings,
                const QgsScaleBarRenderer::ScaleBarContext &scaleContext ) const override;
 
-    /**
-     * Applies any default settings relating to the scalebar to the passed \a settings object.
-     *
-     * Returns TRUE if settings were applied.
-     *
-     * \since QGIS 3.42
-     */
     bool applyDefaultSettings( QgsScaleBarSettings &settings ) const override;
 };