diff --git a/lib/rules.js b/lib/rules.js
index e5d573d..2b74e9b 100644
--- a/lib/rules.js
+++ b/lib/rules.js
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ Rules.prototype.Error = function(message, rule, value) {
 };
 
 Rules.prototype.apply = function(value) {
-  if (_.isEmpty(value) && !_.isUndefined(this.rules['default'])) {
+  if (isValueEmpty(value) && !_.isUndefined(this.rules['default'])) {
     if ('function' === typeof(this.rules['default'])) {
       value = this.rules['default'].call();
     } else { 
@@ -254,6 +254,25 @@ var filters = {
   }
 };
 
+/**
+ * _.isEmpty(value) only verifies string arrays and objects.
+ * Other types will be asserted by a type verification.
+ *
+ * @param  {mixed}  value
+ * @return {Boolean}
+ */
+function isValueEmpty(value) {
+  if (_.isUndefined(value)) {
+    return true;
+  }
+  var canUseIsEmpty = _.isString(value) || _.isArray(value) || _.isObject(value) || false;
+  if (canUseIsEmpty) {
+    return _.isEmpty(value);
+  }
+  return (_.isNumber(value) || _.isBoolean(value) || _.isDate(value)) ? false : true;
+}
+
+
 exports.create = function(param, rules) {
   return new Rules(param, rules);
 };
diff --git a/test/default.js b/test/default.js
index 6c1ed64..e24dfbc 100644
--- a/test/default.js
+++ b/test/default.js
@@ -29,4 +29,23 @@ describe("default schemas", function()
      expect(input1.data.sound).to.equal('meow');
      expect(input2.data.sound).to.equal('moo moo');
    });
+
+   it("respects non string/object/array values with defaults", function () {
+     var
+     input1, input2,
+     schema = schemajs.create({
+       counter: {
+         type: 'number',
+         'default': 30
+       }
+     });
+
+     input1 = schema.validate({
+       counter: 9
+     });
+     input2 = schema.validate({});
+
+     expect(input1.data.counter).to.equal(9);
+     expect(input2.data.counter).to.equal(30);
+   });
 });