diff --git a/core/modules/widgets/checkbox.js b/core/modules/widgets/checkbox.js
index 2480ff319..6c1d64feb 100644
--- a/core/modules/widgets/checkbox.js
+++ b/core/modules/widgets/checkbox.js
@@ -65,7 +65,12 @@ CheckboxWidget.prototype.getValue = function() {
 			}
 		}
 		if(this.checkboxField) {
-			var value = tiddler.fields[this.checkboxField] || this.checkboxDefault || "";
+			var value;
+			if($tw.utils.hop(tiddler.fields,this.checkboxField)) {
+				value = tiddler.fields[this.checkboxField] || "";
+			} else {
+				value = this.checkboxDefault || "";
+			}
 			if(value === this.checkboxChecked) {
 				return true;
 			}