diff --git a/src/infrastructure/customfield/field/PhabricatorCustomFieldList.php b/src/infrastructure/customfield/field/PhabricatorCustomFieldList.php
index bb1c445bec..bb030154d1 100644
--- a/src/infrastructure/customfield/field/PhabricatorCustomFieldList.php
+++ b/src/infrastructure/customfield/field/PhabricatorCustomFieldList.php
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ final class PhabricatorCustomFieldList extends Phobject {
     return $this;
   }
 
+
   /**
    * Read stored values for all fields which support storage.
    *
@@ -65,7 +66,9 @@ final class PhabricatorCustomFieldList extends Phobject {
       $storage = idx($objects, $key);
       if ($storage) {
         $field->setValueFromStorage($storage->getFieldValue());
-      } else {
+      } else if ($object->getPHID()) {
+        // NOTE: We set this only if the object exists. Otherwise, we allow the
+        // field to retain any default value it may have.
         $field->setValueFromStorage(null);
       }
     }
diff --git a/src/infrastructure/customfield/standard/PhabricatorStandardCustomField.php b/src/infrastructure/customfield/standard/PhabricatorStandardCustomField.php
index 7d73234655..2f79bfd22b 100644
--- a/src/infrastructure/customfield/standard/PhabricatorStandardCustomField.php
+++ b/src/infrastructure/customfield/standard/PhabricatorStandardCustomField.php
@@ -108,6 +108,9 @@ abstract class PhabricatorStandardCustomField
           $this->setRequired($value);
           $this->setFieldError(true);
           break;
+        case 'default':
+          $this->setFieldValue($value);
+          break;
         case 'type':
           // We set this earlier on.
           break;