diff --git a/src/idl_parser.cpp b/src/idl_parser.cpp
index 2be1fd933..366a77be8 100644
--- a/src/idl_parser.cpp
+++ b/src/idl_parser.cpp
@@ -669,11 +669,11 @@ CheckedError Parser::ParseField(StructDef &struct_def) {
 
   if (token_ == '=') {
     NEXT();
-    ECHECK(ParseSingleValue(&field->name, field->value));
     if (!IsScalar(type.base_type) ||
         (struct_def.fixed && field->value.constant != "0"))
       return Error(
             "default values currently only supported for scalars in tables");
+    ECHECK(ParseSingleValue(&field->name, field->value));
   }
   if (type.enum_def &&
       !type.enum_def->is_union &&