diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/vst_plugin.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/vst_plugin.h
index 2f2bcaae83..e56b9c005c 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/vst_plugin.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/vst_plugin.h
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ protected:
 
 	framepos_t _transport_frame;
 	float      _transport_speed;
+	mutable std::map <uint32_t, float> _parameter_defaults;
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/libs/ardour/vst_plugin.cc b/libs/ardour/vst_plugin.cc
index 728219b0fe..8188354062 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/vst_plugin.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/vst_plugin.cc
@@ -91,9 +91,9 @@ VSTPlugin::set_block_size (pframes_t nframes)
 }
 
 float
-VSTPlugin::default_value (uint32_t)
+VSTPlugin::default_value (uint32_t which)
 {
-	return 0;
+	return _parameter_defaults[which];
 }
 
 float
@@ -323,6 +323,9 @@ VSTPlugin::get_parameter_descriptor (uint32_t which, ParameterDescriptor& desc)
 		desc.sr_dependent = false;
 	}
 
+	desc.normal = get_parameter (which);
+	_parameter_defaults[which] = desc.normal;
+
 	return 0;
 }