diff --git a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/object/ObjectMapper.java b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/object/ObjectMapper.java
index c80d17ca81a..85fc6b6bc1a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/object/ObjectMapper.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/mapper/object/ObjectMapper.java
@@ -532,7 +532,11 @@ public class ObjectMapper implements Mapper, AllFieldMapper.IncludeInAll {
                         context.path().remove();
                         Mapper.Builder builder = context.root().findTemplateBuilder(context, currentFieldName, "object");
                         if (builder == null) {
-                            builder = MapperBuilders.object(currentFieldName).enabled(true).dynamic(dynamic).pathType(pathType);
+                            builder = MapperBuilders.object(currentFieldName).enabled(true).pathType(pathType);
+                            // if this is a non root object, then explicitly set the dynamic behavior if set
+                            if (!(this instanceof RootObjectMapper) && this.dynamic != Defaults.DYNAMIC) {
+                                ((Builder) builder).dynamic(this.dynamic);
+                            }
                         }
                         BuilderContext builderContext = new BuilderContext(context.indexSettings(), context.path());
                         objectMapper = builder.build(builderContext);