diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/56610-docker_image-fix-oldstyle-defaults.yml b/changelogs/fragments/56610-docker_image-fix-oldstyle-defaults.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..52a55dc873
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/56610-docker_image-fix-oldstyle-defaults.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+bugfixes:
+- "docker_image - if ``nocache`` set to ``yes`` but not ``build.nocache``, the module failed."
+- "docker_image - if ``build`` was not specified, the wrong default for ``build.rm`` is used."
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/docker/docker_image.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/docker/docker_image.py
index 48e867a8ab..201c5b53c9 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/docker/docker_image.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/docker/docker_image.py
@@ -453,11 +453,11 @@ class ImageManager(DockerBaseClass):
         self.load_path = parameters.get('load_path')
         self.name = parameters.get('name')
         self.network = build.get('network')
-        self.nocache = build.get('nocache')
+        self.nocache = build.get('nocache', False)
         self.build_path = build.get('path')
         self.pull = build.get('pull')
         self.repository = parameters.get('repository')
-        self.rm = build.get('rm')
+        self.rm = build.get('rm', True)
         self.state = parameters.get('state')
         self.tag = parameters.get('tag')
         self.http_timeout = build.get('http_timeout')
@@ -879,7 +879,7 @@ def main():
         if client.module.params[option] != default_value:
             if client.module.params['build'] is None:
                 client.module.params['build'] = dict()
-            if client.module.params['build'].get(build_option) != default_value:
+            if client.module.params['build'].get(build_option, default_value) != default_value:
                 client.fail('Cannot specify both %s and build.%s!' % (option, build_option))
             client.module.params['build'][build_option] = client.module.params[option]
             client.module.warn('Please specify build.%s instead of %s. The %s option '