diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/filters/default.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/filters/default.rs
index 6bb194d97..1a6a02366 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/filters/default.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/filters/default.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@ use nu_engine::CallExt;
 use nu_protocol::ast::Call;
 use nu_protocol::engine::{Command, EngineState, Stack};
 use nu_protocol::{
-    Category, Example, PipelineData, ShellError, Signature, Span, Spanned, SyntaxShape, Type, Value,
+    Category, Example, IntoPipelineData, PipelineData, ShellError, Signature, Span, Spanned,
+    SyntaxShape, Type, Value,
 };
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
@@ -114,6 +115,8 @@ fn default(
             },
             ctrlc,
         )
+    } else if input.is_nothing() {
+        Ok(value.into_pipeline_data())
     } else {
         input.map(
             move |item| match item {
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/default.rs b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/default.rs
index d14e0597e..131d8077f 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/default.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/tests/commands/default.rs
@@ -33,3 +33,10 @@ fn adds_row_data_if_column_missing() {
         assert_eq!(actual.out, "2");
     });
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn default_after_empty_filter() {
+    let actual = nu!("[a b] | where $it == 'c' | last | default 'd'");
+
+    assert_eq!(actual.out, "d");
+}