diff --git a/codegen/object.go b/codegen/object.go
index 9bad02a0ca..3c5c14f4d9 100644
--- a/codegen/object.go
+++ b/codegen/object.go
@@ -35,8 +35,9 @@ type Field struct {
 type FieldArgument struct {
 	*Type
 
-	GQLName string  // The name of the argument in graphql
-	Object  *Object // A link back to the parent object
+	GQLName string      // The name of the argument in graphql
+	Object  *Object     // A link back to the parent object
+	Default interface{} // The default value
 }
 
 type Objects []*Object
diff --git a/codegen/object_build.go b/codegen/object_build.go
index 0aa170fee5..08c82ea4a0 100644
--- a/codegen/object_build.go
+++ b/codegen/object_build.go
@@ -98,11 +98,17 @@ func buildObject(types NamedTypes, typ *schema.Object) *Object {
 	for _, field := range typ.Fields {
 		var args []FieldArgument
 		for _, arg := range field.Args {
-			args = append(args, FieldArgument{
+			newArg := FieldArgument{
 				GQLName: arg.Name.Name,
 				Type:    types.getType(arg.Type),
 				Object:  obj,
-			})
+			}
+
+			if arg.Default != nil {
+				newArg.Default = arg.Default.Value(nil)
+				newArg.StripPtr()
+			}
+			args = append(args, newArg)
 		}
 
 		obj.Fields = append(obj.Fields, Field{
diff --git a/codegen/templates/args.gotpl b/codegen/templates/args.gotpl
index e2d253d0ba..79f3971cbc 100644
--- a/codegen/templates/args.gotpl
+++ b/codegen/templates/args.gotpl
@@ -11,5 +11,18 @@
 					return graphql.Null
 				{{- end }}
 			}
+		} {{ if $arg.Default }} else {
+			tmp := {{ $arg.Default | dump }}
+			var err error
+			{{$arg.Unmarshal (print "arg" $i) "tmp" }}
+			if err != nil {
+				ec.Error(err)
+				{{- if $arg.Object.Stream }}
+					return nil
+				{{- else }}
+					return graphql.Null
+				{{- end }}
+			}
 		}
+		{{end }}
 	{{- end -}}
diff --git a/codegen/templates/data.go b/codegen/templates/data.go
index 9c86ba3253..e6f8b10776 100644
--- a/codegen/templates/data.go
+++ b/codegen/templates/data.go
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 package templates
 
 var data = map[string]string{
-	"args.gotpl":      "\t{{- range $i, $arg := . }}\n\t\tvar arg{{$i}} {{$arg.Signature }}\n\t\tif tmp, ok := field.Args[{{$arg.GQLName|quote}}]; ok {\n\t\t\tvar err error\n\t\t\t{{$arg.Unmarshal (print \"arg\" $i) \"tmp\" }}\n\t\t\tif err != nil {\n\t\t\t\tec.Error(err)\n\t\t\t\t{{- if $arg.Object.Stream }}\n\t\t\t\t\treturn nil\n\t\t\t\t{{- else }}\n\t\t\t\t\treturn graphql.Null\n\t\t\t\t{{- end }}\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t{{- end -}}\n",
+	"args.gotpl":      "\t{{- range $i, $arg := . }}\n\t\tvar arg{{$i}} {{$arg.Signature }}\n\t\tif tmp, ok := field.Args[{{$arg.GQLName|quote}}]; ok {\n\t\t\tvar err error\n\t\t\t{{$arg.Unmarshal (print \"arg\" $i) \"tmp\" }}\n\t\t\tif err != nil {\n\t\t\t\tec.Error(err)\n\t\t\t\t{{- if $arg.Object.Stream }}\n\t\t\t\t\treturn nil\n\t\t\t\t{{- else }}\n\t\t\t\t\treturn graphql.Null\n\t\t\t\t{{- end }}\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t} {{ if $arg.Default }} else {\n\t\t\ttmp := {{ $arg.Default | dump }}\n\t\t\tvar err error\n\t\t\t{{$arg.Unmarshal (print \"arg\" $i) \"tmp\" }}\n\t\t\tif err != nil {\n\t\t\t\tec.Error(err)\n\t\t\t\t{{- if $arg.Object.Stream }}\n\t\t\t\t\treturn nil\n\t\t\t\t{{- else }}\n\t\t\t\t\treturn graphql.Null\n\t\t\t\t{{- end }}\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t\t{{end }}\n\t{{- end -}}\n",
 	"field.gotpl":     "{{ $field := . }}\n{{ $object := $field.Object }}\n\n{{- if $object.Stream }}\n\tfunc (ec *executionContext) _{{$object.GQLType}}_{{$field.GQLName}}(field graphql.CollectedField) func() graphql.Marshaler {\n\t\t{{- template \"args.gotpl\" $field.Args }}\n\t\tresults, err := ec.resolvers.{{ $object.GQLType }}_{{ $field.GQLName }}({{ $field.CallArgs }})\n\t\tif err != nil {\n\t\t\tec.Error(err)\n\t\t\treturn nil\n\t\t}\n\t\treturn func() graphql.Marshaler {\n\t\t\tres, ok := <-results\n\t\t\tif !ok {\n\t\t\t\treturn nil\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\tvar out graphql.OrderedMap\n\t\t\tout.Add(field.Alias, func() graphql.Marshaler { {{ $field.WriteJson }} }())\n\t\t\treturn &out\n\t\t}\n\t}\n{{ else }}\n\tfunc (ec *executionContext) _{{$object.GQLType}}_{{$field.GQLName}}(field graphql.CollectedField, {{if not $object.Root}}obj *{{$object.FullName}}{{end}}) graphql.Marshaler {\n\t\t{{- template \"args.gotpl\" $field.Args }}\n\n\t\t{{- if $field.IsConcurrent }}\n\t\t\treturn graphql.Defer(func() graphql.Marshaler {\n\t\t{{- end }}\n\n\t\t\t{{- if $field.GoVarName }}\n\t\t\t\tres := obj.{{$field.GoVarName}}\n\t\t\t{{- else if $field.GoMethodName }}\n\t\t\t\t{{- if $field.NoErr }}\n\t\t\t\t\tres := {{$field.GoMethodName}}({{ $field.CallArgs }})\n\t\t\t\t{{- else }}\n\t\t\t\t\tres, err := {{$field.GoMethodName}}({{ $field.CallArgs }})\n\t\t\t\t\tif err != nil {\n\t\t\t\t\t\tec.Error(err)\n\t\t\t\t\t\treturn graphql.Null\n\t\t\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\t{{- end }}\n\t\t\t{{- else }}\n\t\t\t\tres, err := ec.resolvers.{{ $object.GQLType }}_{{ $field.GQLName }}({{ $field.CallArgs }})\n\t\t\t\tif err != nil {\n\t\t\t\t\tec.Error(err)\n\t\t\t\t\treturn graphql.Null\n\t\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t{{- end }}\n\t\t\t{{ $field.WriteJson }}\n\t\t{{- if $field.IsConcurrent }}\n\t\t\t})\n\t\t{{- end }}\n\t}\n{{ end }}\n",
 	"file.gotpl":      "// This file was generated by github.com/vektah/gqlgen, DO NOT EDIT\n\npackage {{ .PackageName }}\n\nimport (\n{{- range $import := .Imports }}\n\t{{- $import.Write }}\n{{ end }}\n)\n\nfunc MakeExecutableSchema(resolvers Resolvers) graphql.ExecutableSchema {\n\treturn &executableSchema{resolvers}\n}\n\ntype Resolvers interface {\n{{- range $object := .Objects -}}\n\t{{ range $field := $object.Fields -}}\n\t\t{{ $field.ResolverDeclaration }}\n\t{{ end }}\n{{- end }}\n}\n\n{{ range $model := .Models }}\n\t{{ template \"model.gotpl\" $model }}\n{{- end}}\n\ntype executableSchema struct {\n\tresolvers Resolvers\n}\n\nfunc (e *executableSchema) Schema() *schema.Schema {\n\treturn parsedSchema\n}\n\nfunc (e *executableSchema) Query(ctx context.Context, doc *query.Document, variables map[string]interface{}, op *query.Operation) *graphql.Response {\n\t{{- if .QueryRoot }}\n\t\tec := executionContext{resolvers: e.resolvers, variables: variables, doc: doc, ctx: ctx}\n\n\t\tdata := ec._{{.QueryRoot.GQLType}}(op.Selections)\n\t\tvar buf bytes.Buffer\n\t\tdata.MarshalGQL(&buf)\n\n\t\treturn &graphql.Response{\n\t\t\tData:   buf.Bytes(),\n\t\t\tErrors: ec.Errors,\n\t\t}\n\t{{- else }}\n\t\treturn &graphql.Response{Errors: []*errors.QueryError{ {Message: \"queries are not supported\"} }}\n\t{{- end }}\n}\n\nfunc (e *executableSchema) Mutation(ctx context.Context, doc *query.Document, variables map[string]interface{}, op *query.Operation) *graphql.Response {\n\t{{- if .MutationRoot }}\n\t\tec := executionContext{resolvers: e.resolvers, variables: variables, doc: doc, ctx: ctx}\n\n\t\tdata := ec._{{.MutationRoot.GQLType}}(op.Selections)\n\t\tvar buf bytes.Buffer\n\t\tdata.MarshalGQL(&buf)\n\n\t\treturn &graphql.Response{\n\t\t\tData:   buf.Bytes(),\n\t\t\tErrors: ec.Errors,\n\t\t}\n\t{{- else }}\n\t\treturn &graphql.Response{Errors: []*errors.QueryError{ {Message: \"mutations are not supported\"} }}\n\t{{- end }}\n}\n\nfunc (e *executableSchema) Subscription(ctx context.Context, doc *query.Document, variables map[string]interface{}, op *query.Operation) func() *graphql.Response {\n\t{{- if .SubscriptionRoot }}\n\t\tec := executionContext{resolvers: e.resolvers, variables: variables, doc: doc, ctx: ctx}\n\n\t\tnext := ec._{{.SubscriptionRoot.GQLType}}(op.Selections)\n\t\tif ec.Errors != nil {\n\t\t\treturn graphql.OneShot(&graphql.Response{Data: []byte(\"null\"), Errors: ec.Errors})\n\t\t}\n\n\t\tvar buf bytes.Buffer\n\t\treturn func() *graphql.Response {\n\t\t\tbuf.Reset()\n\t\t\tdata := next()\n\t\t\tif data == nil {\n\t\t\t\treturn nil\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\tdata.MarshalGQL(&buf)\n\n\t\t\terrs := ec.Errors\n\t\t\tec.Errors = nil\n\t\t\treturn &graphql.Response{\n\t\t\t\tData:   buf.Bytes(),\n\t\t\t\tErrors: errs,\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t{{- else }}\n\t\treturn graphql.OneShot(&graphql.Response{Errors: []*errors.QueryError{ {Message: \"subscriptions are not supported\"} }})\n\t{{- end }}\n}\n\ntype executionContext struct {\n\terrors.Builder\n\tresolvers Resolvers\n\tvariables map[string]interface{}\n\tdoc       *query.Document\n\tctx       context.Context\n}\n\n{{- range $object := .Objects }}\n\t{{ template \"object.gotpl\" $object }}\n\n\t{{- range $field := $object.Fields }}\n\t\t{{ template \"field.gotpl\" $field }}\n\t{{ end }}\n{{- end}}\n\n{{- range $interface := .Interfaces }}\n\t{{ template \"interface.gotpl\" $interface }}\n{{- end }}\n\n{{- range $input := .Inputs }}\n\t{{ template \"input.gotpl\" $input }}\n{{- end }}\n\nvar parsedSchema = schema.MustParse({{.SchemaRaw|quote}})\n\nfunc (ec *executionContext) introspectSchema() *introspection.Schema {\n\treturn introspection.WrapSchema(parsedSchema)\n}\n\nfunc (ec *executionContext) introspectType(name string) *introspection.Type {\n\tt := parsedSchema.Resolve(name)\n\tif t == nil {\n\t\treturn nil\n\t}\n\treturn introspection.WrapType(t)\n}\n",
 	"input.gotpl":     "\t{{- if .IsMarshaled }}\n\tfunc Unmarshal{{ .GQLType }}(v interface{}) ({{.FullName}}, error) {\n\t\tvar it {{.FullName}}\n\n\t\tfor k, v := range v.(map[string]interface{}) {\n\t\t\tswitch k {\n\t\t\t{{- range $field := .Fields }}\n\t\t\tcase {{$field.GQLName|quote}}:\n\t\t\t\tvar err error\n\t\t\t\t{{ $field.Unmarshal (print \"it.\" $field.GoVarName) \"v\" }}\n\t\t\t\tif err != nil {\n\t\t\t\t\treturn it, err\n\t\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t{{- end }}\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\n\t\treturn it, nil\n\t}\n\t{{- end }}\n",
diff --git a/codegen/templates/templates.go b/codegen/templates/templates.go
index 49eec9efcf..54a9b1b2c8 100644
--- a/codegen/templates/templates.go
+++ b/codegen/templates/templates.go
@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@ package templates
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
+	"fmt"
 	"strconv"
+	"strings"
 	"text/template"
 	"unicode"
 
@@ -16,6 +18,7 @@ func Run(e *codegen.Build) (*bytes.Buffer, error) {
 		"ucFirst": ucFirst,
 		"lcFirst": lcFirst,
 		"quote":   strconv.Quote,
+		"dump":    dump,
 	})
 
 	for filename, data := range data {
@@ -52,3 +55,36 @@ func lcFirst(s string) string {
 	r[0] = unicode.ToLower(r[0])
 	return string(r)
 }
+
+func dump(val interface{}) string {
+	switch val := val.(type) {
+	case int:
+		return strconv.Itoa(val)
+	case float64:
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%f", val)
+	case string:
+		return strconv.Quote(val)
+	case bool:
+		return strconv.FormatBool(val)
+	case nil:
+		return "nil"
+	case []interface{}:
+		var parts []string
+		for _, part := range val {
+			parts = append(parts, dump(part))
+		}
+		return "[]interface{}{" + strings.Join(parts, ",") + "}"
+	case map[string]interface{}:
+		buf := bytes.Buffer{}
+		buf.WriteString("map[string]interface{}{")
+		for key, data := range val {
+			buf.WriteString(strconv.Quote(key))
+			buf.WriteString(":")
+			buf.WriteString(dump(data))
+		}
+		buf.WriteString("}")
+		return buf.String()
+	default:
+		panic(fmt.Errorf("unsupported type %T", val))
+	}
+}
diff --git a/codegen/type.go b/codegen/type.go
index 6eb40f9e82..1e6e76d337 100644
--- a/codegen/type.go
+++ b/codegen/type.go
@@ -62,6 +62,13 @@ func (t Type) IsPtr() bool {
 	return len(t.Modifiers) > 0 && t.Modifiers[0] == modPtr
 }
 
+func (t *Type) StripPtr() {
+	if !t.IsPtr() {
+		return
+	}
+	t.Modifiers = t.Modifiers[0 : len(t.Modifiers)-1]
+}
+
 func (t Type) IsSlice() bool {
 	return len(t.Modifiers) > 0 && t.Modifiers[0] == modList
 }
diff --git a/codegen/type_build.go b/codegen/type_build.go
index 86be1265a5..50fa32dc83 100644
--- a/codegen/type_build.go
+++ b/codegen/type_build.go
@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@ func (n NamedTypes) getType(t common.Type) *Type {
 				Modifiers: modifiers,
 			}
 
-			if t.IsInterface && t.Modifiers[len(t.Modifiers)-1] == modPtr {
-				t.Modifiers = t.Modifiers[0 : len(t.Modifiers)-1]
+			if t.IsInterface {
+				t.StripPtr()
 			}
 
 			return t
diff --git a/example/scalars/generated.go b/example/scalars/generated.go
index 96d44cb5ed..2d37a48824 100644
--- a/example/scalars/generated.go
+++ b/example/scalars/generated.go
@@ -118,12 +118,22 @@ func (ec *executionContext) _Query_search(field graphql.CollectedField) graphql.
 	if tmp, ok := field.Args["input"]; ok {
 		var err error
 
+		arg0, err = UnmarshalSearchArgs(tmp)
+		if err != nil {
+			ec.Error(err)
+			return graphql.Null
+		}
+	} else {
+		tmp := map[string]interface{}{"location": "37,144"}
+		var err error
+
 		arg0, err = UnmarshalSearchArgs(tmp)
 		if err != nil {
 			ec.Error(err)
 			return graphql.Null
 		}
 	}
+
 	return graphql.Defer(func() graphql.Marshaler {
 		res, err := ec.resolvers.Query_search(ec.ctx, arg0)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -751,7 +761,7 @@ func UnmarshalSearchArgs(v interface{}) (SearchArgs, error) {
 	return it, nil
 }
 
-var parsedSchema = schema.MustParse("schema {\n    query: Query\n}\n\ntype Query {\n    user(id: ID!): User\n    search(input: SearchArgs!): [User!]!\n}\n\ntype User {\n    id: ID!\n    name: String!\n    created: Timestamp\n    location: Point\n    isBanned: Boolean!\n}\n\ninput SearchArgs {\n    location: Point\n    createdAfter: Timestamp\n    isBanned: Boolean\n}\n\nscalar Timestamp\nscalar Point\n")
+var parsedSchema = schema.MustParse("schema {\n    query: Query\n}\n\ntype Query {\n    user(id: ID!): User\n    search(input: SearchArgs = {location: \"37,144\"}): [User!]!\n}\n\ntype User {\n    id: ID!\n    name: String!\n    created: Timestamp\n    location: Point\n    isBanned: Boolean!\n}\n\ninput SearchArgs {\n    location: Point\n    createdAfter: Timestamp\n    isBanned: Boolean\n}\n\nscalar Timestamp\nscalar Point\n")
 
 func (ec *executionContext) introspectSchema() *introspection.Schema {
 	return introspection.WrapSchema(parsedSchema)
diff --git a/example/scalars/scalar_test.go b/example/scalars/scalar_test.go
index 137e01a519..835cb434d2 100644
--- a/example/scalars/scalar_test.go
+++ b/example/scalars/scalar_test.go
@@ -43,6 +43,14 @@ func TestScalars(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Equal(t, int64(666), resp.Search[0].Created)
 	})
 
+	t.Run("default search location", func(t *testing.T) {
+		var resp struct{ Search []RawUser }
+
+		err := c.Post(`{ search { location } }`, &resp)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.Equal(t, "37,144", resp.Search[0].Location)
+	})
+
 	t.Run("test custom error messages", func(t *testing.T) {
 		var resp struct{ Search []RawUser }
 
diff --git a/example/scalars/schema.graphql b/example/scalars/schema.graphql
index 18ac9a60b0..f841391ac4 100644
--- a/example/scalars/schema.graphql
+++ b/example/scalars/schema.graphql
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ schema {
 
 type Query {
     user(id: ID!): User
-    search(input: SearchArgs!): [User!]!
+    search(input: SearchArgs = {location: "37,144"}): [User!]!
 }
 
 type User {
diff --git a/example/starwars/generated.go b/example/starwars/generated.go
index 586d8e0a35..1df185613f 100644
--- a/example/starwars/generated.go
+++ b/example/starwars/generated.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ type Resolvers interface {
 	Human_starships(ctx context.Context, obj *Human) ([]Starship, error)
 	Mutation_createReview(ctx context.Context, episode string, review Review) (*Review, error)
 
-	Query_hero(ctx context.Context, episode *string) (Character, error)
+	Query_hero(ctx context.Context, episode string) (Character, error)
 	Query_reviews(ctx context.Context, episode string, since *time.Time) ([]Review, error)
 	Query_search(ctx context.Context, text string) ([]SearchResult, error)
 	Query_character(ctx context.Context, id string) (Character, error)
@@ -347,12 +347,22 @@ func (ec *executionContext) _Human_height(field graphql.CollectedField, obj *Hum
 	if tmp, ok := field.Args["unit"]; ok {
 		var err error
 
+		arg0, err = graphql.UnmarshalString(tmp)
+		if err != nil {
+			ec.Error(err)
+			return graphql.Null
+		}
+	} else {
+		tmp := "METER"
+		var err error
+
 		arg0, err = graphql.UnmarshalString(tmp)
 		if err != nil {
 			ec.Error(err)
 			return graphql.Null
 		}
 	}
+
 	res := obj.Height(arg0)
 	return graphql.MarshalFloat(res)
 }
@@ -570,18 +580,26 @@ func (ec *executionContext) _Query(sel []query.Selection) graphql.Marshaler {
 }
 
 func (ec *executionContext) _Query_hero(field graphql.CollectedField) graphql.Marshaler {
-	var arg0 *string
+	var arg0 string
 	if tmp, ok := field.Args["episode"]; ok {
 		var err error
-		var ptr1 string
 
-		ptr1, err = graphql.UnmarshalString(tmp)
-		arg0 = &ptr1
+		arg0, err = graphql.UnmarshalString(tmp)
+		if err != nil {
+			ec.Error(err)
+			return graphql.Null
+		}
+	} else {
+		tmp := "NEWHOPE"
+		var err error
+
+		arg0, err = graphql.UnmarshalString(tmp)
 		if err != nil {
 			ec.Error(err)
 			return graphql.Null
 		}
 	}
+
 	return graphql.Defer(func() graphql.Marshaler {
 		res, err := ec.resolvers.Query_hero(ec.ctx, arg0)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -860,12 +878,22 @@ func (ec *executionContext) _Starship_length(field graphql.CollectedField, obj *
 	if tmp, ok := field.Args["unit"]; ok {
 		var err error
 
+		arg0, err = graphql.UnmarshalString(tmp)
+		if err != nil {
+			ec.Error(err)
+			return graphql.Null
+		}
+	} else {
+		tmp := "METER"
+		var err error
+
 		arg0, err = graphql.UnmarshalString(tmp)
 		if err != nil {
 			ec.Error(err)
 			return graphql.Null
 		}
 	}
+
 	res := obj.Length(arg0)
 	return graphql.MarshalFloat(res)
 }
diff --git a/example/starwars/resolvers.go b/example/starwars/resolvers.go
index 04c97068e6..08475d5365 100644
--- a/example/starwars/resolvers.go
+++ b/example/starwars/resolvers.go
@@ -85,8 +85,8 @@ func (r *Resolver) Mutation_createReview(ctx context.Context, episode string, re
 	return &review, nil
 }
 
-func (r *Resolver) Query_hero(ctx context.Context, episode *string) (Character, error) {
-	if episode != nil && *episode == "EMPIRE" {
+func (r *Resolver) Query_hero(ctx context.Context, episode string) (Character, error) {
+	if episode == "EMPIRE" {
 		return r.humans["1000"], nil
 	}
 	return r.droid["2001"], nil
diff --git a/example/starwars/starwars_test.go b/example/starwars/starwars_test.go
index 04e9646265..8d7a8d2ad9 100644
--- a/example/starwars/starwars_test.go
+++ b/example/starwars/starwars_test.go
@@ -84,6 +84,17 @@ func TestStarwars(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Equal(t, 1.72, resp.Hero.Height)
 	})
 
+	t.Run("default hero episode", func(t *testing.T) {
+		var resp struct {
+			Hero struct {
+				Name string
+			}
+		}
+		c.MustPost(`{ hero { ... on Droid { name } } }`, &resp)
+
+		require.Equal(t, "R2-D2", resp.Hero.Name)
+	})
+
 	t.Run("friends", func(t *testing.T) {
 		var resp struct {
 			Human struct {