diff --git a/bec_widgets/validation/monitor_config_validator.py b/bec_widgets/validation/monitor_config_validator.py
index c5a56e67..2636110b 100644
--- a/bec_widgets/validation/monitor_config_validator.py
+++ b/bec_widgets/validation/monitor_config_validator.py
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ class PlotSettings(BaseModel):
     """
 
     background_color: str
-    axis_width: Optional[int] = None
+    axis_width: Optional[int] = 2
     axis_color: Optional[str] = None
     num_columns: int
     colormap: str
diff --git a/bec_widgets/widgets/monitor/monitor.py b/bec_widgets/widgets/monitor/monitor.py
index cac58706..8804ba9d 100644
--- a/bec_widgets/widgets/monitor/monitor.py
+++ b/bec_widgets/widgets/monitor/monitor.py
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ class BECMonitor(pg.GraphicsLayoutWidget):
         """
         if plot_settings.get("show_grid", False):
             plot.showGrid(x=True, y=True, alpha=0.5)
-        pen_width = plot_settings.get("axis_width", 2)
+        pen_width = plot_settings.get("axis_width")
         color = plot_settings.get("axis_color")
         if color is None:
             if plot_settings["background_color"].lower() == "black":