diff --git a/py2k/utils/__init__.py b/py2k/utils/__init__.py
index 0127128..60c265b 100644
--- a/py2k/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/py2k/utils/__init__.py
@@ -18,6 +18,13 @@
 import pydantic
 
 
+def _nullable_type(avro_type):
+    if isinstance(avro_type, list) and 'null' in avro_type:
+        return avro_type
+
+    return ['null', avro_type]
+
+
 def process_properties(schema: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     """Processes a Pydantic generated schema to a confluent compliant schema
 
@@ -46,7 +53,10 @@ def process_properties(schema: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
             json_type = value['type']
             value['type'] = json2avro_types.get(json_type, json_type)
 
-            if value.get('default') is not None:
+            if 'default' in value and value['default'] is None:
+                value['type'] = _nullable_type(value['type'])
+
+            elif value.get('default') is not None:
                 default = value['default']
                 value['default'] = python2avro_defaults.get(default, default)
 
@@ -82,5 +92,7 @@ def update_optional_schema(
 
     for field, optional_field in product(_schema['fields'], optionals):
         if field['name'] == optional_field:
-            field.update({'type': ['null', field['type']]})
+            field.update({'type': _nullable_type(field['type'])})
+            if model.__fields__[optional_field].default is None:
+                field.setdefault('default', None)
     return _schema
diff --git a/tests/test_schema.py b/tests/test_schema.py
index dc799b9..72769f8 100644
--- a/tests/test_schema.py
+++ b/tests/test_schema.py
@@ -98,3 +98,17 @@ def test_field_with_default(python_value, avro_value):
     default_value = schema['fields'][0]['default']
 
     assert default_value == avro_value
+
+
+def test_field_with_null_default_is_nullable():
+    MyRecord = create_model('MyRecord',
+                            a=(bool, None),
+                            __base__=KafkaRecord)
+
+    schema = MyRecord().schema()
+
+    assert schema['fields'][0] == {
+        'type': ['null', 'boolean'],
+        'default': None,
+        'name': 'a'
+    }