diff --git a/field_group.module b/field_group.module
index 772405d..b57ebeb 100644
--- a/field_group.module
+++ b/field_group.module
@@ -499,11 +499,11 @@ function field_group_field_group_format_settings($group) {
     );
   }
 
-  if (isset($formatter['instance_settings']['description'])) {
+  if (!empty($formatter['instance_settings']['description'])) {
     $form['instance_settings']['description'] = array(
       '#title' => t('Description'),
       '#type' => 'textarea',
-      '#default_value' => isset($group->format_settings['instance_settings']['description']) ? $group->format_settings['instance_settings']['description'] : (isset($formatter['instance_settings']['description']) ? $formatter['instance_settings']['description'] : ''),
+      '#default_value' => !empty($group->format_settings['instance_settings']['description']) ? t($group->format_settings['instance_settings']['description']) : (!empty($formatter['instance_settings']['description']) ? t($formatter['instance_settings']['description']) : ''),
       '#weight' => 0,
     );
   }