diff --git a/docs/HISTORY.txt b/docs/HISTORY.txt
index 54a7d3d..c51b411 100644
--- a/docs/HISTORY.txt
+++ b/docs/HISTORY.txt
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@ Changelog
 2.0.1 (unreleased)
 ------------------
 
+- The default attribute accessor now also looks through subtypes
+  (behaviors) to find a field default.
+  [malthe]
+
 - Added support in the FTI to look up behaviors by utility name when
   getting additional schemata (i.e. fields provided by behaviors).
 
diff --git a/plone/dexterity/content.py b/plone/dexterity/content.py
index 4181617..2c6912b 100644
--- a/plone/dexterity/content.py
+++ b/plone/dexterity/content.py
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ class FTIAwareSpecification(ObjectSpecificationDescriptor):
     """
     
     def __get__(self, inst, cls=None):
-        
         # We're looking at a class - fall back on default
         if inst is None:
             return getObjectSpecification(cls)
@@ -186,7 +185,13 @@ class DexterityContent(DAVResourceMixin, PortalContent, DefaultDublinCoreImpl, C
             field = schema.get(name, None)
             if field is not None:
                 return deepcopy(field.default)
-        
+
+        # do the same for each subtype
+        for schema in SCHEMA_CACHE.subtypes(self.portal_type):
+            field = schema.get(name, None)
+            if field is not None:
+                return deepcopy(field.default)
+
         raise AttributeError(name)
     
     # Let __name__ and id be identical. Note that id must be ASCII in Zope 2,
@@ -316,16 +321,11 @@ class Container(DAVCollectionMixin, BrowserDefaultMixin, CMFCatalogAware, CMFOrd
             setattr(self, k, v)
     
     def __getattr__(self, name):
-        
-        # attribute was not found; try to look it up in the schema and return
-        # a default
-        
-        schema = SCHEMA_CACHE.get(self.portal_type)
-        if schema is not None:
-            field = schema.get(name, None)
-            if field is not None:
-                return deepcopy(field.default)
-        
+        try:
+            return DexterityContent.__getattr__(self, name)
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass
+
         # Be specific about the implementation we use
         return CMFOrderedBTreeFolderBase.__getattr__(self, name)
     
diff --git a/plone/dexterity/schema.py b/plone/dexterity/schema.py
index 4e18b50..eee4e29 100644
--- a/plone/dexterity/schema.py
+++ b/plone/dexterity/schema.py
@@ -77,12 +77,13 @@ class SchemaCache(object):
         if cached is None:
             subtypes = []
             fti = queryUtility(IDexterityFTI, name=portal_type)
-            if fti is not None:
-                for behavior_name in fti.behaviors:
-                    behavior = queryUtility(IBehavior, name=behavior_name)
-                    if behavior is not None and behavior.marker is not None:
-                        subtypes.append(behavior.marker)
-                cached = self.subtypes_cache[portal_type] = tuple(subtypes)
+            if fti is None:
+                return ()
+            for behavior_name in fti.behaviors:
+                behavior = queryUtility(IBehavior, name=behavior_name)
+                if behavior is not None and behavior.marker is not None:
+                    subtypes.append(behavior.marker)
+            cached = self.subtypes_cache[portal_type] = tuple(subtypes)
         return cached
         
     @synchronized(lock)
diff --git a/plone/dexterity/tests/test_content.py b/plone/dexterity/tests/test_content.py
index 38b2368..ff9fdd7 100644
--- a/plone/dexterity/tests/test_content.py
+++ b/plone/dexterity/tests/test_content.py
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ class TestContent(MockTestCase):
             pass
         
         class ISubtype(Interface):
-            pass
+            baz = zope.schema.TextLine(title=u"baz", default=u"baz")
         
         behavior1 = BehaviorRegistration(u"Behavior1", "", IBehavior1, None, None)
         behavior2 = BehaviorRegistration(u"Behavior2", "", IBehavior2, ISubtype, None)
@@ -258,7 +258,10 @@ class TestContent(MockTestCase):
         # the cache. This is not the case, as evidenced by .count(1) above.
         self.assertEquals(True, ISubtype.providedBy(item))
         self.assertEquals(True, ISchema.providedBy(item))
-        
+
+        # Subtypes provide field defaults.
+        self.assertEquals(u"baz", getattr(item, "baz", None))
+
         # We also need to ensure that the _v_ attribute doesn't hide any
         # interface set directly on the instance with alsoProvides() or
         # directlyProvides(). This is done by clearing the cache when these