diff --git a/pkg/kapp/crdupgradesafety/change_validator.go b/pkg/kapp/crdupgradesafety/change_validator.go
index 32325f01d..1be5147d9 100644
--- a/pkg/kapp/crdupgradesafety/change_validator.go
+++ b/pkg/kapp/crdupgradesafety/change_validator.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 package crdupgradesafety
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"reflect"
@@ -253,9 +254,17 @@ func MinimumPropertiesChangeValidation(diff FieldDiff) (bool, error) {
 // - An error if either of the above criteria are not met
 func DefaultValueChangeValidation(diff FieldDiff) (bool, error) {
 	handled := func() bool {
+		tmpOldDefault := diff.Old.Default
+		tmpNewDefault := diff.New.Default
+
 		diff.Old.Default = &v1.JSON{}
 		diff.New.Default = &v1.JSON{}
-		return reflect.DeepEqual(diff.Old, diff.New)
+		result := reflect.DeepEqual(diff.Old, diff.New)
+
+		// resetting diff.Old.Default and diff.New.Default to original values
+		diff.Old.Default = tmpOldDefault
+		diff.New.Default = tmpNewDefault
+		return result
 	}
 
 	switch {
@@ -266,7 +275,7 @@ func DefaultValueChangeValidation(diff FieldDiff) (bool, error) {
 		return handled(), fmt.Errorf("default value has been removed when previously a default value existed: %+v", diff.Old.Default.Raw)
 
 	case diff.Old.Default != nil && diff.New.Default != nil:
-		if !reflect.DeepEqual(diff.Old.Default.Raw, diff.New.Default.Raw) {
+		if !bytes.Equal(diff.Old.Default.Raw, diff.New.Default.Raw) {
 			return handled(), fmt.Errorf("default value has been changed from %+v to %+v", diff.Old.Default.Raw, diff.New.Default.Raw)
 		}
 		fallthrough
diff --git a/pkg/kapp/crdupgradesafety/change_validator_test.go b/pkg/kapp/crdupgradesafety/change_validator_test.go
index 7265bc841..104d43887 100644
--- a/pkg/kapp/crdupgradesafety/change_validator_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kapp/crdupgradesafety/change_validator_test.go
@@ -954,8 +954,6 @@ func TestDefaultChangeValidation(t *testing.T) {
 			handled, err := crdupgradesafety.DefaultValueChangeValidation(tc.diff)
 			assert.Equal(t, tc.shouldError, err != nil, "should error? - %v", tc.shouldError)
 			assert.Equal(t, tc.shouldHandle, handled, "should be handled? - %v", tc.shouldHandle)
-			assert.Empty(t, tc.diff.Old.Default)
-			assert.Empty(t, tc.diff.New.Default)
 		})
 	}
 }