diff --git a/components/editorControls/SettingControls/CheckBoxList.cs b/components/editorControls/SettingControls/CheckBoxList.cs
index cd719948d0..aa72102ae4 100644
--- a/components/editorControls/SettingControls/CheckBoxList.cs
+++ b/components/editorControls/SettingControls/CheckBoxList.cs
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ namespace umbraco.editorControls.SettingControls
 
             }
 
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(_val) && !string.IsNullOrEmpty(DefaultValue))
+                cbl.SelectedValue = DefaultValue;
 
 
             return cbl;