diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 6688a43c..0314865c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 ### Changed
 
 * [HexaPDF::Type::AcroForm::Form] text-like field creation methods to always set
-  a default appearance string
+  a default appearance string and the quadding
 * Convenience methods for accessing resources to not add the deprecated /ProcSet
   entry by default
 * [HexaPDF::DigitalSignature::CMSHandler] to add informational output regarding
diff --git a/lib/hexapdf/type/acro_form/form.rb b/lib/hexapdf/type/acro_form/form.rb
index dcecaee8..26223616 100644
--- a/lib/hexapdf/type/acro_form/form.rb
+++ b/lib/hexapdf/type/acro_form/form.rb
@@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ def apply_variable_text_properties(field, font: nil, font_options: nil, font_siz
                                               font_options: font_options || {},
                                               font_size: font_size || 0,
                                               font_color: font_color || 0)
-          field.text_alignment(align) if align
+          field.text_alignment(align || :left)
         end
 
         def perform_validation # :nodoc:
diff --git a/test/hexapdf/type/acro_form/test_form.rb b/test/hexapdf/type/acro_form/test_form.rb
index c9dfd34e..e04942f8 100644
--- a/test/hexapdf/type/acro_form/test_form.rb
+++ b/test/hexapdf/type/acro_form/test_form.rb
@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ def applies_variable_text_properties(method, **args)
       assert_equal(:'Helvetica', @acro_form.default_resources.font(font_name)[:BaseFont])
       assert_equal(0, font_size)
       assert_equal(HexaPDF::Content::ColorSpace::DeviceGray.new.color(0), font_color)
+      assert_equal(0, field.value[:Q])
 
       field = @acro_form.send(method, "field", **args, font: 'Times')
       font_name, font_size, font_color = field.parse_default_appearance_string