diff --git a/ci/paperless-ngx/test-values.yaml b/ci/paperless-ngx/test-values.yaml
index 3769628..383ab65 100644
--- a/ci/paperless-ngx/test-values.yaml
+++ b/ci/paperless-ngx/test-values.yaml
@@ -9,5 +9,12 @@ ingress:
   # apply - there is no cert-manager in the CI cluster.
   clusterIssuer: ci
 
+paperless:
+  files:
+    # Regression guard for issue #61: a childless "barcodes:" key is YAML null.
+    # It must fall back to the chart defaults (barcodes enabled, "PATCHT") and
+    # neither erase them nor break rendering.
+    barcodes:
+
 # smbConnection and oidc stay disabled (defaults): the SMB CSI driver and a
 # real OIDC login flow are out of scope for the CI install-test.
diff --git a/paperless-ngx/Chart.yaml b/paperless-ngx/Chart.yaml
index d87db47..9386978 100644
--- a/paperless-ngx/Chart.yaml
+++ b/paperless-ngx/Chart.yaml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ icon: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/paperless-ngx/paperless-ngx/dev/src-ui/s
 
 type: application
 
-version: 10.0.0+up3.0.5
+version: 11.0.0+up3.0.5
 
 appVersion: 3.0.5
 
diff --git a/paperless-ngx/templates/_helpers.tpl b/paperless-ngx/templates/_helpers.tpl
index b4029b9..48aecea 100644
--- a/paperless-ngx/templates/_helpers.tpl
+++ b/paperless-ngx/templates/_helpers.tpl
@@ -114,3 +114,78 @@ template-chart is the reference implementation.
 1
 {{- end -}}
 {{- end -}}
+
+{{/*
+Merge a user-supplied values sub-tree onto a dict of chart defaults so that a
+null / empty override falls back to the defaults instead of erasing them.
+
+Input: dict "defaults" <dict> "given" <dict|nil> "path" <string, optional
+values path used in error messages>. Output: YAML of the merged dict (consume
+it with fromYaml).
+
+Why this exists (issue #61): Helm merges values maps recursively, but an
+override key written without children — e.g. a leftover
+
+  barcodes:
+
+after deleting its last remaining sub-key — is YAML null and replaces the
+whole default sub-tree. The chart then renders with no barcode settings at
+all. This helper defines the opposite semantics: an empty block means "chart
+defaults apply".
+
+Rules:
+  - a nil "given" is treated as an empty dict (all defaults apply).
+  - a key whose override value is null keeps the default (nulls never delete).
+  - a key present in both as a map is merged recursively, so a partially
+    filled block only overrides the keys it actually sets.
+  - a scalar override for a key the defaults define as a map is rejected with
+    a message naming the values path, instead of failing later with a template
+    field error.
+  - any other set value wins as given, including an explicit false or 0 —
+    Helm's "default" and sprig's "mergeOverwrite" would both swallow those
+    zero values, hence the explicit kindIs "invalid" nil check.
+  - keys only present in the override are passed through unchanged.
+*/}}
+{{- define "paperless-ngx.defaultedDict" -}}
+{{- $defaults := .defaults | default dict -}}
+{{- $given := .given -}}
+{{- $path := .path | default "value" -}}
+{{- if kindIs "invalid" $given -}}
+{{- $given = dict -}}
+{{- end -}}
+{{- if not (kindIs "map" $given) -}}
+{{- fail (printf "%s must be a mapping or null, got %s (%v)" $path (kindOf $given) $given) -}}
+{{- end -}}
+{{- $out := deepCopy $defaults -}}
+{{- range $key, $value := $given -}}
+{{- if not (kindIs "invalid" $value) -}}
+{{- $default := index $defaults $key -}}
+{{- if and (kindIs "map" $value) (kindIs "map" $default) -}}
+{{- $_ := set $out $key (fromYaml (include "paperless-ngx.defaultedDict" (dict "defaults" $default "given" $value "path" (printf "%s.%s" $path $key)))) -}}
+{{- else if kindIs "map" $default -}}
+{{- fail (printf "%s.%s must be a mapping or null, got %s (%v)" $path $key (kindOf $value) $value) -}}
+{{- else -}}
+{{- $_ := set $out $key $value -}}
+{{- end -}}
+{{- end -}}
+{{- end -}}
+{{- toYaml $out -}}
+{{- end -}}
+
+{{/*
+The effective barcode settings, rendered as YAML (consume with fromYaml).
+
+Input: .Values.paperless.files.barcodes (may be nil, empty or partial).
+
+The defaults below MUST stay in sync with the barcodes block in values.yaml,
+which stays the documented, user-facing place for them; this copy is only the
+fallback for the case where an override has erased the block.
+*/}}
+{{- define "paperless-ngx.barcodes" -}}
+{{- $defaults := dict
+      "enabled" true
+      "barcodeString" "PATCHT"
+      "retainBarcodePage" false
+      "asn" (dict "enabled" true) -}}
+{{- include "paperless-ngx.defaultedDict" (dict "defaults" $defaults "given" . "path" "paperless.files.barcodes") -}}
+{{- end -}}
diff --git a/paperless-ngx/templates/paperless-server.sfs.yaml b/paperless-ngx/templates/paperless-server.sfs.yaml
index 06a6d9f..d100978 100644
--- a/paperless-ngx/templates/paperless-server.sfs.yaml
+++ b/paperless-ngx/templates/paperless-server.sfs.yaml
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+{{- /*
+Barcode settings, defended against a null / empty "barcodes:" override:
+an empty block falls back to the chart defaults (issue #61).
+*/ -}}
+{{- $barcodes := fromYaml (include "paperless-ngx.barcodes" .Values.paperless.files.barcodes) -}}
 apiVersion: apps/v1
 kind: StatefulSet
 metadata:
@@ -137,13 +142,13 @@ spec:
             - name: PAPERLESS_URL
               value: "https://{{ .Values.ingress.domain }}"
             - name: PAPERLESS_CONSUMER_ENABLE_ASN_BARCODE
-              value: "{{ .Values.paperless.files.barcodes.asn.enabled }}"
+              value: "{{ $barcodes.asn.enabled }}"
             - name: PAPERLESS_CONSUMER_ENABLE_BARCODES
-              value: "{{ .Values.paperless.files.barcodes.enabled }}"
+              value: "{{ $barcodes.enabled }}"
             - name: PAPERLESS_CONSUMER_BARCODE_STRING
-              value: "{{ .Values.paperless.files.barcodes.barcodeString }}"
+              value: "{{ $barcodes.barcodeString }}"
             - name: PAPERLESS_CONSUMER_BARCODE_RETAIN_SPLIT_PAGES
-              value: "{{ .Values.paperless.files.barcodes.retainBarcodePage }}"
+              value: "{{ $barcodes.retainBarcodePage }}"
             - name: PAPERLESS_CONSUMER_DELETE_DUPLICATES
               value: "{{ .Values.paperless.files.deleteDuplicates }}"
             {{- if .Values.paperless.files.tikaGotenberg.enabled }}
diff --git a/paperless-ngx/values.yaml b/paperless-ngx/values.yaml
index 08ae837..dcc0851 100644
--- a/paperless-ngx/values.yaml
+++ b/paperless-ngx/values.yaml
@@ -48,6 +48,13 @@ paperless:
     # The barcode scanner backend is no longer configurable: paperless-ngx 3.0
     # removed pyzbar and PAPERLESS_CONSUMER_BARCODE_SCANNER; zxing-cpp is the
     # only backend now.
+    #
+    # An empty or null "barcodes:" block in an override means "the defaults
+    # below apply" — the chart merges the block onto these defaults instead of
+    # letting a childless key erase them (issue #61; the fallback copy lives in
+    # the paperless-ngx.barcodes helper and is kept in sync with this block).
+    # To switch barcode handling off, set barcodes.enabled: false explicitly;
+    # deleting the sub-keys does not disable it.
     barcodes:
       enabled: true
       barcodeString: "PATCHT"