diff --git a/lemur/certificates/models.py b/lemur/certificates/models.py
index add8cfc49..c191329ba 100644
--- a/lemur/certificates/models.py
+++ b/lemur/certificates/models.py
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ def __init__(self, **kwargs):
         self.roles = list(set(kwargs.get("roles", [])))
         self.replaces = kwargs.get("replaces", [])
         self.rotation = kwargs.get("rotation")
-        self.rotation_policy = kwargs.get("rotation_policy")
+        self.rotation_policy = kwargs.get("rotation_policy") or RotationPolicy.query.filter_by(name="default").first()
         self.key_type = kwargs.get("key_type")
         self.signing_algorithm = defaults.signing_algorithm(cert)
         self.bits = defaults.bitstrength(cert)
diff --git a/lemur/factory.py b/lemur/factory.py
index bdef4c653..d7d3689a2 100644
--- a/lemur/factory.py
+++ b/lemur/factory.py
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ def create_app(app_name=None, blueprints=None, config=None):
     configure_logging(app)
     configure_database(app)
     install_plugins(app)
+    configure_default_rotation_policy(app)
 
     @app.teardown_appcontext
     def teardown(exception=None):
@@ -77,6 +78,28 @@ def teardown(exception=None):
     return app
 
 
+def configure_default_rotation_policy(app):
+    """
+    Ensures the named "default" RotationPolicy exists and its days are in sync
+    with LEMUR_DEFAULT_ROTATION_INTERVAL. Called once at boot via create_app()
+    so every process (web, celery worker, celery beat) starts with the policy
+    matching the configured value.
+    """
+    from lemur.policies import service as policy_service
+    from sqlalchemy.exc import OperationalError, ProgrammingError
+
+    with app.app_context():
+        try:
+            policy_service.update_default_rotation_policy()
+        except (OperationalError, ProgrammingError):
+            # rotation_policies table doesn't exist yet (fresh DB / migrations
+            # not yet run, or test DB before create_all). Safe to skip — the
+            # policy will be synced on the next boot after migrations complete.
+            app.logger.debug(
+                "Skipping default rotation policy sync: table not ready"
+            )
+
+
 def from_file(file_path, silent=False):
     """
     Updates the values in the config from a Python file.  This function
diff --git a/lemur/manage.py b/lemur/manage.py
index bc49fa101..2691c5a19 100755
--- a/lemur/manage.py
+++ b/lemur/manage.py
@@ -282,24 +282,7 @@ def run(self, password):
             "DEFAULT_SECURITY", recipients=recipients
         )
 
-        _DEFAULT_ROTATION_INTERVAL = "default"
-        default_rotation_interval = policy_service.get_by_name(
-            _DEFAULT_ROTATION_INTERVAL
-        )
-
-        if default_rotation_interval:
-            sys.stdout.write(
-                "[-] Default rotation interval policy already created, skipping...!\n"
-            )
-        else:
-            days = current_app.config.get("LEMUR_DEFAULT_ROTATION_INTERVAL", 30)
-            sys.stdout.write(
-                "[+] Creating default certificate rotation policy of {days} days before issuance.\n".format(
-                    days=days
-                )
-            )
-            policy_service.create(days=days, name=_DEFAULT_ROTATION_INTERVAL)
-
+        policy_service.update_default_rotation_policy()
         sys.stdout.write("[/] Done!\n")
 
 
diff --git a/lemur/policies/service.py b/lemur/policies/service.py
index aa7339295..6aa657bfc 100644
--- a/lemur/policies/service.py
+++ b/lemur/policies/service.py
@@ -6,10 +6,37 @@
 .. moduleauthor:: Kevin Glisson <kglisson@netflix.com>
 """
 
+from flask import current_app
+
 from lemur import database
 from lemur.policies.models import RotationPolicy
 
 
+def update_default_rotation_policy():
+    """
+    Return the named "default" RotationPolicy, keeping it in sync with
+    LEMUR_DEFAULT_ROTATION_INTERVAL: creates it if missing, updates its days
+    if the config has changed. This policy is the NULL-policy fallback in
+    Certificate.__init__.
+    The default rotation policy is refreshed as a part of the pre-query sync
+    in get_all_pending_reissue.
+    """
+    days = current_app.config.get("LEMUR_DEFAULT_ROTATION_INTERVAL", 60)
+    policies = get_by_name("default")
+    if not policies:
+        current_app.logger.info(
+            "[+] Creating default rotation policy: days=%d", days
+        )
+        return create(days=days, name="default")
+    policy = policies[0]
+    if policy.days != days:
+        current_app.logger.info(
+            "[~] Updating default rotation policy: days %d -> %d", policy.days, days
+        )
+        update(policy.id, days=days)
+    return policy
+
+
 def get(policy_id):
     """
     Retrieves policy by its ID.
diff --git a/lemur/tests/conf.py b/lemur/tests/conf.py
index 26f2f3937..31064106c 100644
--- a/lemur/tests/conf.py
+++ b/lemur/tests/conf.py
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ def get_random_secret(length):
 LEMUR_DEFAULT_LOCATION = "Los Gatos"
 LEMUR_DEFAULT_ORGANIZATION = "Example, Inc."
 LEMUR_DEFAULT_ORGANIZATIONAL_UNIT = "Example"
+LEMUR_DEFAULT_ROTATION_INTERVAL = 60
 
 LEMUR_ALLOW_WEEKEND_EXPIRATION = False
 
diff --git a/local/src/lemur.conf.py b/local/src/lemur.conf.py
index 048789769..f79bd55ba 100644
--- a/local/src/lemur.conf.py
+++ b/local/src/lemur.conf.py
@@ -220,6 +220,9 @@ def get_random_secret(length):
 LEMUR_DEFAULT_ORGANIZATIONAL_UNIT = str(
     os.environ.get("LEMUR_DEFAULT_ORGANIZATIONAL_UNIT", "")
 )
+LEMUR_DEFAULT_ROTATION_INTERVAL = int(
+    os.environ.get("LEMUR_DEFAULT_ROTATION_INTERVAL", 60)
+)
 
 LEMUR_DEFAULT_AUTHORITY = str(os.environ.get("LEMUR_DEFAULT_AUTHORITY", "ExampleCa"))