diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 1086131ef..13f9df666 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ Special thanks to the following for their contributions to the release:
 - [PR #1597](https://github.com/nf-core/rnaseq/pull/1597) - Bump version after release 3.20.0
 - [PR #1603](https://github.com/nf-core/rnaseq/pull/1603) - Add bam input pathway
 - [PR #1604](https://github.com/nf-core/rnaseq/pull/1604) - Enable BAM input for RSEM
+- [PR #1605](https://github.com/nf-core/rnaseq/pull/1605) - Fix default for umi_discard_read to prevent validation errors in Platform
 
 ## [[3.20.0](https://github.com/nf-core/rnaseq/releases/tag/3.20.0)] - 2025-08-18
 
diff --git a/nextflow.config b/nextflow.config
index 1e1a5ed7f..f58b842b3 100644
--- a/nextflow.config
+++ b/nextflow.config
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ params {
     umitools_bc_pattern        = null
     umitools_bc_pattern2       = null
     umitools_umi_separator     = null
-    umi_discard_read           = null
+    umi_discard_read           = 0
     save_umi_intermeds         = false
 
     // Linting