diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ddecf6122cf..068a7b34d9b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ release.
   ([#4802](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/pull/4802))
 - Declarative configuration: clarify Registry ComponentProvider `type` parameter
   ([#4799](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/pull/4799))
+- Declarative configuration: Update instrumentation config behavior to return
+  empty object when not set
+  ([#4817](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/pull/4817))
 - Swap Tracer/Meter/LoggerConfig `disabled` for `enabled` to avoid double negatives
   ([#4823](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/pull/4823))
 
diff --git a/specification/configuration/api.md b/specification/configuration/api.md
index e076c95e434..ceb5cacfddd 100644
--- a/specification/configuration/api.md
+++ b/specification/configuration/api.md
@@ -60,9 +60,8 @@ Obtain configuration relevant to instrumentation libraries.
 the [`.instrumentation`](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-configuration/blob/670901762dd5cce1eecee423b8660e69f71ef4be/examples/kitchen-sink.yaml#L438-L439)
 configuration mapping node.
 
-If the `.instrumentation` node is not set, get instrumentation config MUST
-return nil, null, undefined or another language-specific idiomatic pattern
-denoting empty.
+If the `.instrumentation` node is not set, get instrumentation config SHOULD
+return an empty `ConfigProperties` (as if `.instrumentation: {}` was set).
 
 ### ConfigProperties