diff --git a/code/Model/EditableFormField/EditableCountryDropdownField.php b/code/Model/EditableFormField/EditableCountryDropdownField.php
index af60f38..c37d78c 100644
--- a/code/Model/EditableFormField/EditableCountryDropdownField.php
+++ b/code/Model/EditableFormField/EditableCountryDropdownField.php
@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@
 namespace SilverStripe\UserForms\Model\EditableFormField;
 
 use SilverStripe\Core\Manifest\ModuleLoader;
+use SilverStripe\Forms\CheckboxField;
 use SilverStripe\Forms\DropdownField;
+use SilverStripe\Forms\TextField;
 use SilverStripe\i18n\i18n;
 use SilverStripe\UserForms\Model\EditableCustomRule;
 use SilverStripe\UserForms\Model\EditableFormField;
@@ -11,6 +13,9 @@ use SilverStripe\UserForms\Model\EditableFormField;
 /**
  * A dropdown field which allows the user to select a country
  *
+ * @property bool $UseEmptyString
+ * @property string $EmptyString
+ *
  * @package userforms
  */
 class EditableCountryDropdownField extends EditableFormField
@@ -19,6 +24,11 @@ class EditableCountryDropdownField extends EditableFormField
 
     private static $plural_name = 'Country Dropdowns';
 
+    private static $db = array(
+        'UseEmptyString' => 'Boolean',
+        'EmptyString' => 'Varchar(255)',
+    );
+
     private static $table_name = 'EditableCountryDropdownField';
 
     /**
@@ -28,10 +38,25 @@ class EditableCountryDropdownField extends EditableFormField
     {
         $fields = parent::getCMSFields();
 
-        $fields->replaceField(
-            'Default',
+        $fields->removeByName('Default');
+        $fields->addFieldToTab(
+            'Root.Main',
             DropdownField::create('Default', _t(__CLASS__ . '.DEFAULT', 'Default value'))
-            ->setSource(i18n::getData()->getCountries())
+                         ->setSource(i18n::getData()->getCountries())
+                         ->setHasEmptyDefault(true)
+                         ->setEmptyString('---')
+        );
+
+        $fields->addFieldToTab(
+            'Root.Main',
+            CheckboxField::create('UseEmptyString')
+                         ->setTitle('Set default empty string')
+        );
+
+        $fields->addFieldToTab(
+            'Root.Main',
+            TextField::create('EmptyString')
+                     ->setTitle('Empty String')
         );
 
         return $fields;
@@ -44,6 +69,11 @@ class EditableCountryDropdownField extends EditableFormField
             ->setFieldHolderTemplate(EditableFormField::class . '_holder')
             ->setTemplate(EditableDropdown::class);
 
+        // Empty string
+        if ($this->UseEmptyString) {
+            $field->setEmptyString($this->EmptyString ?: '');
+        }
+
         // Set default
         if ($this->Default) {
             $field->setValue($this->Default);
diff --git a/tests/Model/EditableFormField/EditableCountryDropdownFieldTest.php b/tests/Model/EditableFormField/EditableCountryDropdownFieldTest.php
index 4668253..4bbd019 100644
--- a/tests/Model/EditableFormField/EditableCountryDropdownFieldTest.php
+++ b/tests/Model/EditableFormField/EditableCountryDropdownFieldTest.php
@@ -40,4 +40,23 @@ class EditableCountryDropdownFieldTest extends SapphireTest
         $field->Default = 'nz';
         $this->assertEquals($field->getFormField()->Value(), 'nz');
     }
+
+    public function testEmptyDefaultValue()
+    {
+        /** @var EditableCountryDropdownField $field */
+        $field = EditableCountryDropdownField::create();
+
+        /** @var DropdownField $formField */
+        $formField = $field->getFormField();
+        $this->assertFalse($formField->getHasEmptyDefault());
+        $this->assertEmpty($formField->getEmptyString());
+
+        $field->UseEmptyString = true;
+        $field->EmptyString = '--- empty ---';
+
+        /** @var DropdownField $formField */
+        $formField = $field->getFormField();
+        $this->assertTrue($formField->getHasEmptyDefault());
+        $this->assertEquals($formField->getEmptyString(), $field->EmptyString);
+    }
 }