diff --git a/spec/Helpers.coffee b/spec/Helpers.coffee
index 44b2133ec..8a5cecd1d 100644
--- a/spec/Helpers.coffee
+++ b/spec/Helpers.coffee
@@ -753,8 +753,6 @@ describe 'Component traits', ->
         d1.disconnect()
         d2.send 123
         d2.disconnect()
-        p3.send() # Send default
-        p3.disconnect()
         p1.send 'req'
         p1.disconnect()
         # the handler should be triggered here
@@ -803,8 +801,6 @@ describe 'Component traits', ->
         d1.disconnect()
         d2.send 123
         d2.disconnect()
-        p3.send() # Send default
-        p3.disconnect()
         p1.send 'req'
         p1.disconnect()
         # the handler should be triggered here
@@ -920,7 +916,6 @@ describe 'Component traits', ->
             chai.expect(c.invCount).to.equal 3
             done()
 
-        whn.send() # Send defaults
         line.send 'op'
         rpt.send 10
         line.disconnect()
@@ -937,7 +932,6 @@ describe 'Component traits', ->
 
         # this flushes the earlier stuff
 
-
       it 'should be able to postpone and retry after timeout', (done) ->
         c.invCount = 0
         res.once 'data', (data) ->
diff --git a/src/lib/Helpers.coffee b/src/lib/Helpers.coffee
index 1c20d3f3c..629626b68 100644
--- a/src/lib/Helpers.coffee
+++ b/src/lib/Helpers.coffee
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #     NoFlo may be freely distributed under the MIT license
 StreamSender = require('./Streams').StreamSender
 StreamReceiver = require('./Streams').StreamReceiver
+InternalSocket = require './InternalSocket'
 
 # MapComponent maps a single inport to a single outport, forwarding all
 # groups from in to out and calling `func` on each incoming packet
@@ -180,6 +181,19 @@ exports.WirePattern = (component, config, proc) ->
   component.params = {}
   component.requiredParams = []
   component.completeParams = []
+  component.defaultedParams = []
+  component.defaultsSent = false
+
+  sendDefaultParams = ->
+    if not component.defaultsSent and component.defaultedParams.length > 0
+      for param in component.defaultedParams
+        tempSocket = InternalSocket.createSocket()
+        component.inPorts[param].attach tempSocket
+        tempSocket.send()
+        tempSocket.disconnect()
+        component.inPorts[param].detach tempSocket
+    component.defaultsSent = true
+
   resumeTaskQ = ->
     if component.completeParams.length is component.requiredParams.length and
     component.taskQ.length > 0
@@ -193,6 +207,7 @@ exports.WirePattern = (component, config, proc) ->
     unless component.inPorts[port]
       throw new Error "no inPort named '#{port}'"
     component.requiredParams.push port if component.inPorts[port].isRequired()
+    component.defaultedParams.push port if component.inPorts[port].hasDefault()
   for port in config.params
     do (port) ->
       inPort = component.inPorts[port]
@@ -345,6 +360,9 @@ exports.WirePattern = (component, config, proc) ->
             if typeof component.beforeProcess is 'function'
               component.beforeProcess outs
 
+            # Sending defaults if not sent already
+            sendDefaultParams()
+
             # Group forwarding
             if outPorts.length is 1
               outs.beginGroup g for g in groups if config.forwardGroups
@@ -387,6 +405,8 @@ exports.WirePattern = (component, config, proc) ->
     component.taskQ = []
     component.params = {}
     component.completeParams = []
+    component.defaultedParams = []
+    component.defaultsSent = false
 
   # Make it chainable or usable at the end of getComponent()
   return component