diff --git a/docs/generate-settings-spec.c b/docs/generate-settings-spec.c
index dd78fc9211..d7a391f9b0 100644
--- a/docs/generate-settings-spec.c
+++ b/docs/generate-settings-spec.c
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ write_one_setting (FILE *f, SettingNewFunc func)
 		value_desc = g_param_spec_get_blurb (*iter);
 
 		g_value_init (&value, G_PARAM_SPEC_VALUE_TYPE (*iter));
+		g_param_value_set_default (*iter, &value);
 		default_value = g_strdup_value_contents (&value);
 		if (default_value && !strcmp (default_value, "NULL")) {
 			g_free (default_value);