diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8cf805c..5888a1c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -124,9 +124,8 @@ This will check each line to ensure that the count of leading spaces can be divi
 
 ### lineEndings
 
-This setting ensures the line endings in a file conform to the configured type. Possible values are `lf` and `crlf`.
+This setting ensures the line endings in a file conform to the configured type. Possible values are `lf` and `crlf`. If the value is missing, null or undefined then the check would be switched off (no default applied).
 
-- Default: lf
 - Severity: WARNING
 
 ### lowerCaseFileNames
diff --git a/src/types/LintConfig.spec.ts b/src/types/LintConfig.spec.ts
index 5586f22..c7abef8 100644
--- a/src/types/LintConfig.spec.ts
+++ b/src/types/LintConfig.spec.ts
@@ -168,7 +168,8 @@ describe('LintConfig', () => {
       hasMacroNameInMend: true,
       noNestedMacros: true,
       hasMacroParentheses: true,
-      noGremlins: true
+      noGremlins: true,
+      lineEndings: 'lf'
     })
 
     expect(config).toBeTruthy()
diff --git a/src/types/LintConfig.ts b/src/types/LintConfig.ts
index 9a0800e..c4fff84 100644
--- a/src/types/LintConfig.ts
+++ b/src/types/LintConfig.ts
@@ -82,7 +82,6 @@ export class LintConfig {
       }
     }
 
-    this.fileLintRules.push(lineEndings)
     if (json?.lineEndings) {
       if (
         json.lineEndings !== LineEndings.LF &&
@@ -92,6 +91,7 @@ export class LintConfig {
           `Invalid value for lineEndings: can be ${LineEndings.LF} or ${LineEndings.CRLF}`
         )
       }
+      this.fileLintRules.push(lineEndings)
       this.lineEndings = json.lineEndings
     }
 
diff --git a/src/utils/getLintConfig.spec.ts b/src/utils/getLintConfig.spec.ts
index 7843ad8..82da01d 100644
--- a/src/utils/getLintConfig.spec.ts
+++ b/src/utils/getLintConfig.spec.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import * as fileModule from '@sasjs/utils/file'
 import { LintConfig } from '../types/LintConfig'
 import { getLintConfig } from './getLintConfig'
 
-const expectedFileLintRulesCount = 6
+const expectedFileLintRulesCount = 5
 const expectedLineLintRulesCount = 6
 const expectedPathLintRulesCount = 2