diff --git a/tailbone/views/settings.py b/tailbone/views/settings.py
index 0fd784ec..56ea3e4f 100644
--- a/tailbone/views/settings.py
+++ b/tailbone/views/settings.py
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ class AppSettingsView(View):
                 'name': setting.node_name,
                 'default': self.get_setting_value(setting),
             }
-            if kwargs['default'] is None:
+            if kwargs['default'] is None or kwargs['default'] == '':
                 kwargs['default'] = colander.null
             if not setting.required:
                 kwargs['missing'] = colander.null