diff --git a/scribdfield.module b/scribdfield.module
index 9de4c81..83c9921 100644
--- a/scribdfield.module
+++ b/scribdfield.module
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ function scribdfield_widget_process($element, $edit, &$form_state, $form) {
   $element['public'] = array(
     '#type' => 'checkbox',
     '#title' => t('Make uploaded file public.'),
+    '#default_value' => $element['#value']['data']['public'],
   );
 
   return $element;