diff --git a/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/RowImpl.java b/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/RowImpl.java
index cf50e4c9a..38180c595 100644
--- a/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/RowImpl.java
+++ b/openjpa-jdbc/src/main/java/org/apache/openjpa/jdbc/sql/RowImpl.java
@@ -666,7 +666,8 @@ public class RowImpl
         if (_action == ACTION_INSERT) {
             if (col.isAutoAssigned())
                 return;
-            if (!overrideDefault && col.getDefaultString() != null)
+            if (!overrideDefault && val == null 
+                && col.getDefaultString() != null)
                 return;
         }
         if (val == null && col.isNotNull())