diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/actions/__tests__/entries.spec.js b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/actions/__tests__/entries.spec.js
index c4f22ea376f1..8c6e27f0bf86 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/actions/__tests__/entries.spec.js
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/actions/__tests__/entries.spec.js
@@ -78,5 +78,18 @@ describe('entries', () => {
       ]);
       expect(createEmptyDraftData(fields)).toEqual({});
     });
+
+    it('should not return an empty object for boolean widgets without a default value', () => {
+      const fields = fromJS([
+        {
+          name: 'post',
+          widget: 'object',
+          fields: [{ name: 'title', widget: 'boolean' }],
+        },
+      ]);
+      expect(createEmptyDraftData(fields)).toEqual({
+        post: { title: false },
+      });
+    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/actions/entries.js b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/actions/entries.js
index 7bfc10d410c3..e211f7b8bb2b 100644
--- a/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/actions/entries.js
+++ b/packages/netlify-cms-core/src/actions/entries.js
@@ -428,7 +428,11 @@ export function createEmptyDraftData(fields, withNameKey = true) {
     const subfields = item.get('field') || item.get('fields');
     const list = item.get('widget') == 'list';
     const name = item.get('name');
-    const defaultValue = item.get('default', null);
+    // A boolean field without a default value defined will initially render
+    // render as false, but the field will fail the required check. So we are
+    // assinging false.
+    const widgetDefaultValue = item.get('widget') == 'boolean' ? false : null;
+    const defaultValue = item.get('default', widgetDefaultValue);
     const isEmptyDefaultValue = val => [[{}], {}].some(e => isEqual(val, e));
 
     if (List.isList(subfields)) {