diff --git a/source/extensions/retry/priority/other_priority/config.h b/source/extensions/retry/priority/other_priority/config.h
index 770ad8afa4580..ece9c89b055a7 100644
--- a/source/extensions/retry/priority/other_priority/config.h
+++ b/source/extensions/retry/priority/other_priority/config.h
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include "envoy/config/retry/other_priority/other_priority_config.pb.validate.h"
 #include "envoy/upstream/retry.h"
 
 #include "common/protobuf/protobuf.h"
@@ -22,7 +23,8 @@ class OtherPriorityRetryPriorityFactory : public Upstream::RetryPriorityFactory
   }
 
   ProtobufTypes::MessagePtr createEmptyConfigProto() override {
-    return ProtobufTypes::MessagePtr(new ::Envoy::ProtobufWkt::Empty());
+    return ProtobufTypes::MessagePtr(
+        new envoy::config::retry::other_priority::OtherPriorityConfig());
   }
 };
 
diff --git a/test/extensions/retry/priority/other_priority/config_test.cc b/test/extensions/retry/priority/other_priority/config_test.cc
index b35a2a05d3230..bc283390d9f4b 100644
--- a/test/extensions/retry/priority/other_priority/config_test.cc
+++ b/test/extensions/retry/priority/other_priority/config_test.cc
@@ -25,7 +25,11 @@ class RetryPriorityTest : public ::testing::Test, Upstream::RetryPriorityFactory
 
     envoy::config::retry::other_priority::OtherPriorityConfig config;
     config.set_update_frequency(update_frequency_);
-    factory->createRetryPriority(*this, config, 3);
+    // Use createEmptyConfigProto to exercise that code path. This ensures the proto returned
+    // by that method is compatible with the downcast in createRetryPriority.
+    auto empty = factory->createEmptyConfigProto();
+    empty->MergeFrom(config);
+    factory->createRetryPriority(*this, *empty, 3);
   }
 
   // Upstream::RetryPriorityFactoryCallbacks