diff --git a/lib/backgrid.js b/lib/backgrid.js
index 6a8324c8..05ebafc8 100644
--- a/lib/backgrid.js
+++ b/lib/backgrid.js
@@ -1741,7 +1741,7 @@ var Column = Backgrid.Column = Backbone.Model.extend({
     sortType: "cycle",
     sortValue: undefined,
     direction: null,
-    cell: undefined,
+    cell: "string",
     headerCell: undefined
   },
 
diff --git a/src/column.js b/src/column.js
index 49522c18..12280d5f 100644
--- a/src/column.js
+++ b/src/column.js
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ var Column = Backgrid.Column = Backbone.Model.extend({
     sortType: "cycle",
     sortValue: undefined,
     direction: null,
-    cell: undefined,
+    cell: "string",
     headerCell: undefined
   },