diff --git a/rest_framework_gis/filters.py b/rest_framework_gis/filters.py
index a20a3636..8b27d388 100644
--- a/rest_framework_gis/filters.py
+++ b/rest_framework_gis/filters.py
@@ -75,6 +75,10 @@ def filter_queryset(self, request, queryset, view):
 class GeometryFilter(django_filters.Filter):
     field_class = forms.GeometryField
 
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        kwargs.setdefault('widget', forms.BaseGeometryWidget)
+        super(GeometryFilter, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+
 
 class GeoFilterSet(django_filters.FilterSet):
     GEOFILTER_FOR_DBFIELD_DEFAULTS = {