diff --git a/etc/internal-client.conf-sample b/etc/internal-client.conf-sample
index 916e424afc..aed3c9a63c 100644
--- a/etc/internal-client.conf-sample
+++ b/etc/internal-client.conf-sample
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ pipeline = catch_errors proxy-logging cache proxy-server
 
 [app:proxy-server]
 use = egg:swift#proxy
+account_autocreate = true
 # See proxy-server.conf-sample for options
 
 [filter:cache]
diff --git a/swift/container/sync.py b/swift/container/sync.py
index 99df2e4be2..3d48541ada 100644
--- a/swift/container/sync.py
+++ b/swift/container/sync.py
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ pipeline = catch_errors proxy-logging cache proxy-server
 
 [app:proxy-server]
 use = egg:swift#proxy
+account_autocreate = true
 # See proxy-server.conf-sample for options
 
 [filter:cache]