diff --git a/settings.sample.json b/settings.sample.json
index 9e09a56..1b6a690 100644
--- a/settings.sample.json
+++ b/settings.sample.json
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
       "rateLimits": [
         {
           "kinds": [0, 3, 40, 41],
-          "periods": 60000,
+          "period": 60000,
           "rate": 6
         },
         {
diff --git a/src/utils/settings.ts b/src/utils/settings.ts
index 193c428..65db48b 100644
--- a/src/utils/settings.ts
+++ b/src/utils/settings.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { createLogger } from '../factories/logger-factory'
 import { EventKinds } from '../constants/base'
 import { ISettings } from '../@types/settings'
 import packageJson from '../../package.json'
+import settingsSampleJson from '../../settings.sample.json'
 
 const debug = createLogger('settings')
 
@@ -161,7 +162,7 @@ export class SettingsStatic {
     }
     debug('creating settings')
     const path = SettingsStatic.getSettingsFilePath()
-    const defaults = SettingsStatic.getDefaultSettings()
+    const defaults = settingsSampleJson as ISettings
     try {
 
       if (fs.existsSync(path)) {