diff --git a/src/collection.ts b/src/collection.ts
index 6a8d0305ad..efd5d8db66 100644
--- a/src/collection.ts
+++ b/src/collection.ts
@@ -1398,9 +1398,6 @@ export class Collection<TSchema extends Document = Document> {
     pipeline: Document[] = [],
     options: ChangeStreamOptions = {}
   ): ChangeStream<TLocal> {
-    pipeline = pipeline ?? [];
-    options = options ?? {};
-
     // Allow optionally not specifying a pipeline
     if (!Array.isArray(pipeline)) {
       options = pipeline;
diff --git a/src/db.ts b/src/db.ts
index 4410e87480..e343047e61 100644
--- a/src/db.ts
+++ b/src/db.ts
@@ -714,15 +714,10 @@ export class Db {
    * @param pipeline - An array of {@link https://docs.mongodb.com/manual/reference/operator/aggregation-pipeline/|aggregation pipeline stages} through which to pass change stream documents. This allows for filtering (using $match) and manipulating the change stream documents.
    * @param options - Optional settings for the command
    */
-  watch<TSchema = Document>(): ChangeStream<TSchema>;
-  watch<TSchema = Document>(pipeline?: Document[]): ChangeStream<TSchema>;
   watch<TSchema = Document>(
-    pipeline?: Document[],
-    options?: ChangeStreamOptions
+    pipeline: Document[] = [],
+    options: ChangeStreamOptions = {}
   ): ChangeStream<TSchema> {
-    pipeline = pipeline ?? [];
-    options = options ?? {};
-
     // Allow optionally not specifying a pipeline
     if (!Array.isArray(pipeline)) {
       options = pipeline;
diff --git a/src/mongo_client.ts b/src/mongo_client.ts
index 34ec5b56ed..4053584c62 100644
--- a/src/mongo_client.ts
+++ b/src/mongo_client.ts
@@ -596,15 +596,10 @@ export class MongoClient extends TypedEventEmitter<MongoClientEvents> {
    * @param pipeline - An array of {@link https://docs.mongodb.com/manual/reference/operator/aggregation-pipeline/|aggregation pipeline stages} through which to pass change stream documents. This allows for filtering (using $match) and manipulating the change stream documents.
    * @param options - Optional settings for the command
    */
-  watch<TSchema = Document>(): ChangeStream<TSchema>;
-  watch<TSchema = Document>(pipeline?: Document[]): ChangeStream<TSchema>;
   watch<TSchema = Document>(
     pipeline: Document[] = [],
     options: ChangeStreamOptions = {}
   ): ChangeStream<TSchema> {
-    pipeline = pipeline ?? [];
-    options = options ?? {};
-
     // Allow optionally not specifying a pipeline
     if (!Array.isArray(pipeline)) {
       options = pipeline;