diff --git a/metatags_quick.module b/metatags_quick.module
index c6e9d507265502935c60218209feccb505946c10..daae406126bb37816356c34864012d54d6ae1590 100644
--- a/metatags_quick.module
+++ b/metatags_quick.module
@@ -453,6 +453,10 @@ function metatags_quick_field_widget_form(&$form, &$form_state, $field, $instanc
       if (isset($items[$delta]['metatags_quick']) && !is_array($items[$delta]['metatags_quick'])) {
         $items[$delta]['metatags_quick'] = explode(',', $items[$delta]['metatags_quick']);
       }
+      if ($items[$delta]['metatags_quick'] === NULL) {
+        $default_checkboxes = explode(',', $instance['settings']['options']);
+        $items[$delta]['metatags_quick'] = array_fill_keys($default_checkboxes, '');
+      }
       $addition = array(
         '#type' => 'checkboxes',
         '#options' => drupal_map_assoc(isset($instance['settings']['options']) ? explode(',', $instance['settings']['options']) : array('noindex', 'nofollow')),