diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/55951-config-bool-options.yml b/changelogs/fragments/55951-config-bool-options.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e13043cb37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/55951-config-bool-options.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bugfixes:
+  - Allow config options that are type boolean to default to None rather than only True or False.
diff --git a/lib/ansible/config/manager.py b/lib/ansible/config/manager.py
index ec3fc8e601..c951e82d58 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/config/manager.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/config/manager.py
@@ -83,11 +83,11 @@ def ensure_type(value, value_type, origin=None):
     if value_type:
         value_type = value_type.lower()
 
-    if value_type in ('boolean', 'bool'):
-        value = boolean(value, strict=False)
+    if value is not None:
+        if value_type in ('boolean', 'bool'):
+            value = boolean(value, strict=False)
 
-    elif value is not None:
-        if value_type in ('integer', 'int'):
+        elif value_type in ('integer', 'int'):
             value = int(value)
 
         elif value_type == 'float':