diff --git a/src/provisioning/littlefs/WipperSnapper_LittleFS.cpp b/src/provisioning/littlefs/WipperSnapper_LittleFS.cpp
index de76fc79f..f564ef93f 100644
--- a/src/provisioning/littlefs/WipperSnapper_LittleFS.cpp
+++ b/src/provisioning/littlefs/WipperSnapper_LittleFS.cpp
@@ -138,6 +138,12 @@ void WipperSnapper_LittleFS::parseSecrets() {
            "credentials!\n");
   }
 
+  // specify type of value for json key, by using the |operator to include
+  // a typed default value equivalent of with .as<float> w/ default value
+  // https://arduinojson.org/v7/api/jsonvariant/or/
+  WS._config.status_pixel_brightness =
+      doc["status_pixel_brightness"] | (float)STATUS_PIXEL_BRIGHTNESS_DEFAULT;
+
   // Close the file
   secretsFile.close();
 
diff --git a/src/provisioning/tinyusb/Wippersnapper_FS.cpp b/src/provisioning/tinyusb/Wippersnapper_FS.cpp
index 5b0abc304..f40698ea7 100644
--- a/src/provisioning/tinyusb/Wippersnapper_FS.cpp
+++ b/src/provisioning/tinyusb/Wippersnapper_FS.cpp
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ void Wippersnapper_FS::createSecretsFile() {
   strcpy(secretsConfig.aio_key, "YOUR_IO_KEY_HERE");
   strcpy(secretsConfig.network.ssid, "YOUR_WIFI_SSID_HERE");
   strcpy(secretsConfig.network.pass, "YOUR_WIFI_PASS_HERE");
-  secretsConfig.status_pixel_brightness = 0.2;
+  secretsConfig.status_pixel_brightness = STATUS_PIXEL_BRIGHTNESS_DEFAULT;
 
   // Serialize the struct to a JSON document
   JsonDocument doc;
@@ -452,6 +452,12 @@ void Wippersnapper_FS::parseSecrets() {
            "credentials!");
   }
 
+  // specify type of value for json key, by using the |operator to include
+  // a typed default value equivalent of with .as<float> w/ default value
+  // https://arduinojson.org/v7/api/jsonvariant/or/
+  WS._config.status_pixel_brightness =
+      doc["status_pixel_brightness"] | (float)STATUS_PIXEL_BRIGHTNESS_DEFAULT;
+
   // Close secrets.json file
   secretsFile.close();
 }