diff --git a/xmppserver/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/openfire/muc/HistoryStrategy.java b/xmppserver/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/openfire/muc/HistoryStrategy.java
index 19afe906eb..04667df534 100644
--- a/xmppserver/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/openfire/muc/HistoryStrategy.java
+++ b/xmppserver/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/openfire/muc/HistoryStrategy.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright (C) 2004-2008 Jive Software, 2016-2025 Ignite Realtime Foundation. All rights reserved.
+ * Copyright (C) 2004-2008 Jive Software, 2016-2026 Ignite Realtime Foundation. All rights reserved.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ public HistoryStrategy(JID roomJID, HistoryStrategy parentStrategy) {
             maxNumber = DEFAULT_MAX_NUMBER;
         }
         else {
-            type = Type.defaulType;
+            type = Type.defaultType;
             maxNumber = parent.getMaxNumber();
         }
     }
@@ -205,16 +205,9 @@ public void addMessage(@Nonnull final Message... packets)
         }
 
         // get the conditions based on default or not
-        final Type strategyType;
-        final int strategyMaxNumber;
-        if (type == Type.defaulType && parent != null) {
-            strategyType = parent.getType();
-            strategyMaxNumber = parent.getMaxNumber();
-        }
-        else {
-            strategyType = type;
-            strategyMaxNumber = maxNumber;
-        }
+        final HistoryStrategy effective = resolveEffective();
+        final Type strategyType = effective.getType();
+        final int strategyMaxNumber = effective.getMaxNumber();
 
         final Lock lock = MUC_HISTORY_CACHE.getLock(roomJID);
         lock.lock();
@@ -238,11 +231,7 @@ public void addMessage(@Nonnull final Message... packets)
     }
 
     boolean isHistoryEnabled() {
-        Type strategyType = type;
-        if (type == Type.defaulType && parent != null) {
-            strategyType = parent.getType();
-        }
-        return strategyType != HistoryStrategy.Type.none;
+        return resolveEffective().getType() != Type.none;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -321,6 +310,21 @@ public void purge()
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Resolves this strategy to the one whose settings are actually in effect: if this strategy's type is
+     * {@link Type#defaultType}, walks up the parent chain until a strategy with a concrete type (or no parent) is found.
+     * Returns this instance if its type is not defaultType, or if it has no parent to defer to.
+     *
+     * @return The strategy instance whose type/maxNumber values should be treated as authoritative.
+     */
+    HistoryStrategy resolveEffective() {
+        HistoryStrategy strategy = this;
+        while (strategy.type == Type.defaultType && strategy.parent != null) {
+            strategy = strategy.parent;
+        }
+        return strategy;
+    }
+
     @Override
     public void writeExternal(ObjectOutput out) throws IOException {
         ExternalizableUtil.getInstance().writeSerializable(out, type);
@@ -383,7 +387,7 @@ public void readExternal(ObjectInput in) throws IOException, ClassNotFoundExcept
      * Strategy type.
      */
     public enum Type {
-        defaulType, none, all, number;
+        defaultType, none, all, number;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -400,7 +404,7 @@ public void setTypeFromString(String typeName) {
         }
         catch (Exception e) {
             if (parent != null) {
-                type = Type.defaulType;
+                type = Type.defaultType;
             }
             else {
                 type = Type.number;
diff --git a/xmppserver/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/openfire/muc/MUCRoomHistory.java b/xmppserver/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/openfire/muc/MUCRoomHistory.java
index 19b8e7af87..92ee7a3c8f 100644
--- a/xmppserver/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/openfire/muc/MUCRoomHistory.java
+++ b/xmppserver/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/openfire/muc/MUCRoomHistory.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright (C) 2004-2008 Jive Software, 2016-2025 Ignite Realtime Foundation. All rights reserved.
+ * Copyright (C) 2004-2008 Jive Software, 2016-2026 Ignite Realtime Foundation. All rights reserved.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -324,8 +324,9 @@ public boolean isSubjectChangeRequest(Message message) {
      * @return The maximum number of historic messages to keep for this room, or -1.
      */
     public int getMaxMessages() {
-        return switch (historyStrategy.getType()) {
-            case number -> historyStrategy.getMaxNumber();
+        final HistoryStrategy effective = historyStrategy.resolveEffective();
+        return switch (effective.getType()) {
+            case number -> effective.getMaxNumber();
             case none -> 0;
             default -> -1;
         };