diff --git a/app/pdb/file-cmds.c b/app/pdb/file-cmds.c
index aef4cda9e3..145c0b9dc4 100644
--- a/app/pdb/file-cmds.c
+++ b/app/pdb/file-cmds.c
@@ -84,8 +84,17 @@ file_load_invoker (GimpProcedure         *procedure,
                      gimp_value_array_index (new_args, 1));
 
   for (i = 2; i < proc->num_args; i++)
-    if (G_IS_PARAM_SPEC_STRING (proc->args[i]))
-      g_value_set_static_string (gimp_value_array_index (new_args, i), "");
+    if (GIMP_IS_PARAM_SPEC_CHOICE (proc->args[i]))
+      {
+        GParamSpecString *string_spec = G_PARAM_SPEC_STRING (proc->args[i]);
+
+        g_value_set_static_string (gimp_value_array_index (new_args, i),
+                                   string_spec->default_value);
+      }
+    else if (G_IS_PARAM_SPEC_STRING (proc->args[i]))
+      {
+        g_value_set_static_string (gimp_value_array_index (new_args, i), "");
+      }
 
   return_vals =
     gimp_pdb_execute_procedure_by_name_args (gimp->pdb,
diff --git a/pdb/groups/file.pdb b/pdb/groups/file.pdb
index 01254c4fd6..6974f4b4b4 100644
--- a/pdb/groups/file.pdb
+++ b/pdb/groups/file.pdb
@@ -76,8 +76,17 @@ HELP
 		     gimp_value_array_index (new_args, 1));
 
   for (i = 2; i < proc->num_args; i++)
-    if (G_IS_PARAM_SPEC_STRING (proc->args[i]))
-      g_value_set_static_string (gimp_value_array_index (new_args, i), "");
+    if (GIMP_IS_PARAM_SPEC_CHOICE (proc->args[i]))
+      {
+        GParamSpecString *string_spec = G_PARAM_SPEC_STRING (proc->args[i]);
+
+        g_value_set_static_string (gimp_value_array_index (new_args, i),
+                                   string_spec->default_value);
+      }
+    else if (G_IS_PARAM_SPEC_STRING (proc->args[i]))
+      {
+        g_value_set_static_string (gimp_value_array_index (new_args, i), "");
+      }
 
   return_vals =
     gimp_pdb_execute_procedure_by_name_args (gimp->pdb,