diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/fields/QFieldMetaData.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/fields/QFieldMetaData.java
index a24bb992..0bbbb078 100644
--- a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/fields/QFieldMetaData.java
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/model/metadata/fields/QFieldMetaData.java
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ public class QFieldMetaData implements Cloneable
 
             if(StringUtils.hasContent(fieldAnnotation.defaultValue()))
             {
-               ValueUtils.getValueAsFieldType(this.type, fieldAnnotation.defaultValue());
+               withDefaultValue(ValueUtils.getValueAsFieldType(this.type, fieldAnnotation.defaultValue()));
             }
          }
       }