1 files changed, 5 insertions, 2 deletions

diff --git a/src/data.c b/src/data.c
index 9a0788ae719..5fb57407cba 100644
--- a/src/data.c
+++ b/src/data.c
@@ -1701,9 +1701,12 @@ IDX starts at 0.")
                 array = val;
               else
                 /* VAL is a leaf.  Create a sub char table with the
-                   default value VAL here and look into it.  */
+                   default value VAL or XCHAR_TABLE (array)->defalt
+                   and look into it.  */
                 array = (XCHAR_TABLE (array)->contents[code[i]]
-                         = make_sub_char_table (val));
+                         = make_sub_char_table (NILP (val)
+                                                ? XCHAR_TABLE (array)->defalt
+                                                : val));
             }
           XCHAR_TABLE (array)->contents[code[i]] = newelt;
         }