diff --git a/components/editorControls/SettingControls/RadioButtonList.cs b/components/editorControls/SettingControls/RadioButtonList.cs
index 2ff04ca6f3..02af61e35f 100644
--- a/components/editorControls/SettingControls/RadioButtonList.cs
+++ b/components/editorControls/SettingControls/RadioButtonList.cs
@@ -35,7 +35,10 @@ namespace umbraco.editorControls.SettingControls
                 rbl.Items.Add(s);
             }
 
-            rbl.SelectedValue = _val;
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(_val) && !string.IsNullOrEmpty(DefaultValue))
+                rbl.SelectedValue = DefaultValue;
+            else
+                rbl.SelectedValue = _val;
 
             return rbl;
         }