diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index d996401e..3014c73b 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Version 2.4.4-stable+timestamp.2013.03.12.10.40.02
+Version 2.4.4-stable+timestamp.2013.03.15.09.38.01
diff --git a/gluon/sqlhtml.py b/gluon/sqlhtml.py
index db557790..681e1259 100644
--- a/gluon/sqlhtml.py
+++ b/gluon/sqlhtml.py
@@ -1440,7 +1440,8 @@ class SQLFORM(FORM):
                             f = self.table[fieldname].default or ''
                             fields[fieldname] = f
                     else:
-                        fields[fieldname] = ''
+                        f = self.table[fieldname].default or ''
+                        fields[fieldname] = f
                     self.vars[fieldname] = fields[fieldname]
                     if not f:
                         continue