diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 4d52135bff..b33f575f90 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+Thu Feb 12 15:28:04 2009  Yukihiro Matsumoto  <matz@ruby-lang.org>
+
+	* iseq.c (simple_default_value): allow plain strings as default
+	  values.
+
 Wed Feb 11 18:09:41 2009  NAKAMURA Usaku  <usa@ruby-lang.org>
 
 	* gc.c (define_final, undefine_final): shouldn't add/remove finalizer
diff --git a/iseq.c b/iseq.c
index 28c1a39f98..967b142425 100644
--- a/iseq.c
+++ b/iseq.c
@@ -1285,6 +1285,9 @@ simple_default_value(const VALUE *seq, const VALUE *eseq)
       case BIN(putnil):
 	val = Qnil;
 	goto got;
+      case BIN(putstring):
+	val = rb_str_new3(*seq++);
+	goto got;
       case BIN(putobject):
 	val = *seq++;
       got: