diff --git a/embroider_params.py b/embroider_params.py
index d986a0aeb..9b8c14999 100644
--- a/embroider_params.py
+++ b/embroider_params.py
@@ -668,7 +668,7 @@ class EmbroiderParams(inkex.Effect):
             getter = 'get_param'
 
         values = filter(lambda item: item is not None,
-                        (getattr(node, getter)(param.name, param.default) for node in nodes))
+                        (getattr(node, getter)(param.name, str(param.default)) for node in nodes))
 
         return values