diff --git a/options_element.inc b/options_element.inc
index 3c53f9c..30654c5 100644
--- a/options_element.inc
+++ b/options_element.inc
@@ -273,6 +273,9 @@ function _form_type_options_value(&$element, $edit = FALSE) {
         $default_value = _form_options_search(trim($edit['default_value_field']), $options);
       }
     }
+    else {
+      $default_value = NULL;
+    }
 
     return array(
       'options' => $options,