diff --git a/readme.txt b/readme.txt
index 937fada..de7e077 100644
--- a/readme.txt
+++ b/readme.txt
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ Is this plugin prepared for multisites? Yes.
 * Changed the user role for the options page from 'administrator' to 'manage_options'.
 * Added a check for the options page to only load if the user has sufficient rights.
 * Changed the radio buttons on the options page to use the WordPress checked() function.
+* Changed get_option() for the options page to make use a $default_value.
 
 = 4.1.0 =
 * Compatibility with WordPress version 6.7.1
diff --git a/wp-jquery-datatable.php b/wp-jquery-datatable.php
index 8ee69f8..8e4e6b1 100644
--- a/wp-jquery-datatable.php
+++ b/wp-jquery-datatable.php
@@ -79,15 +79,15 @@ function wp_jdt_settings_page()
         return;
     }
 
-    $wp_jdt_info = get_option('wp_jdt_info');
-    $wp_jdt_paging = get_option('wp_jdt_paging');
-    $wp_jdt_page_length = get_option('wp_jdt_page_length');
-    $wp_jdt_paging_type = get_option('wp_jdt_paging_type');
-    $wp_jdt_b_length_change = get_option('wp_jdt_b_length_change');
-    $wp_jdt_ordering = get_option('wp_jdt_ordering');
-    $wp_jdt_order_row = get_option('wp_jdt_order_row');
-    $wp_jdt_order_row_sort = get_option('wp_jdt_order_row_sort');
-    $wp_jdt_searching = get_option('wp_jdt_searching');
+    $wp_jdt_info = get_option('wp_jdt_info', 'true');
+    $wp_jdt_paging = get_option('wp_jdt_paging', 'true');
+    $wp_jdt_page_length = get_option('wp_jdt_page_length', '10');
+    $wp_jdt_paging_type = get_option('wp_jdt_paging_type', 'simple');
+    $wp_jdt_b_length_change = get_option('wp_jdt_b_length_change', 'true');
+    $wp_jdt_ordering = get_option('wp_jdt_ordering', 'true');
+    $wp_jdt_order_row = get_option('wp_jdt_order_row', '0');
+    $wp_jdt_order_row_sort = get_option('wp_jdt_order_row_sort', 'asc');
+    $wp_jdt_searching = get_option('wp_jdt_searching', 'true');
 ?>
     <div class='wrap'>
         <h2><?php _e('WP jQuery DataTable Settings', 'wp-jquery-datatable'); ?></h2>
@@ -131,11 +131,7 @@ function wp_jdt_settings_page()
                 <tr valign='top'>
                     <th scope='row'><?php _e('Rows Per Page', 'wp-jquery-datatable'); ?></th>
                     <td>
-                        <input type="number" class="small-text" value="<?php if ($wp_jdt_page_length != NULL) {
-                                                                            echo $wp_jdt_page_length;
-                                                                        } else {
-                                                                            echo "10";
-                                                                        } ?>" min="1" step="1" name="wp_jdt_page_length">
+                        <input type="number" class="small-text" value="<?php echo $wp_jdt_page_length; ?>" min="1" step="1" name="wp_jdt_page_length">
                     </td>
                 </tr>
 
@@ -162,11 +158,7 @@ function wp_jdt_settings_page()
                 <tr valign='top'>
                     <th scope='row'><?php _e('Specific Column Order', 'wp-jquery-datatable'); ?></th>
                     <td>
-                        <input type="number" class="small-text" value="<?php if ($wp_jdt_order_row != NULL) {
-                                                                            echo $wp_jdt_order_row;
-                                                                        } else {
-                                                                            echo "0";
-                                                                        } ?>" min="0" step="1" name="wp_jdt_order_row"><br>
+                        <input type="number" class="small-text" value="<?php echo $wp_jdt_order_row; ?>" min="0" step="1" name="wp_jdt_order_row"><br>
                         <br>
                         <fieldset>
                             <label title="<?php _e('Ascending'); ?>"><input type="radio" <?php checked($wp_jdt_order_row_sort, 'asc'); ?> value="asc" name="wp_jdt_order_row_sort"> <span><?php _e('Ascending'); ?></span></label><br>