diff --git a/hawtio-web/src/main/webapp/app/camel/js/send.ts b/hawtio-web/src/main/webapp/app/camel/js/send.ts
index 20dd5ad346..52c252a349 100644
--- a/hawtio-web/src/main/webapp/app/camel/js/send.ts
+++ b/hawtio-web/src/main/webapp/app/camel/js/send.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ module Camel {
         $scope.headers.push({name: "", value: ""});
       };
 
+      // lets add a default header
+      $scope.addHeader();
+
       $scope.removeHeader = (header) => {
         $scope.headers = $scope.headers.remove(header);
       };