diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Routing/Generator/UrlGenerator.php b/src/Symfony/Component/Routing/Generator/UrlGenerator.php
index cfcc520bebf5..f2ce87ca5d1f 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/Routing/Generator/UrlGenerator.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Routing/Generator/UrlGenerator.php
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ protected function doGenerate($variables, $defaults, $requirements, $tokens, $pa
         $optional = true;
         foreach ($tokens as $token) {
             if ('variable' === $token[0]) {
-                if (false === $optional || !isset($defaults[$token[3]]) || (isset($parameters[$token[3]]) && $parameters[$token[3]] != $defaults[$token[3]])) {
+                if (false === $optional || !array_key_exists($token[3], $defaults) || (isset($parameters[$token[3]]) && $parameters[$token[3]] != $defaults[$token[3]])) {
                     if (!$isEmpty = in_array($tparams[$token[3]], array(null, '', false), true)) {
                         // check requirement
                         if ($tparams[$token[3]] && !preg_match('#^'.$token[2].'$#', $tparams[$token[3]])) {