diff --git a/lib/runbook/run.rb b/lib/runbook/run.rb
index 9cf69a7..7ae9ea2 100644
--- a/lib/runbook/run.rb
+++ b/lib/runbook/run.rb
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ def runbook__statements__ask(object, metadata)
           return
         end
 
-        result = metadata[:toolbox].ask(object.prompt)
+        result = metadata[:toolbox].ask(object.prompt, default: object.default)
         object.parent.define_singleton_method(object.into.to_sym) do
           result
         end
diff --git a/lib/runbook/toolbox.rb b/lib/runbook/toolbox.rb
index 023e651..e321fbf 100644
--- a/lib/runbook/toolbox.rb
+++ b/lib/runbook/toolbox.rb
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ def initialize
       @prompt = TTY::Prompt.new
     end
 
-    def ask(msg)
-      prompt.ask(msg)
+    def ask(msg, default: nil)
+      prompt.ask(msg, default: default)
     end
 
     def expand(msg, choices)
diff --git a/lib/runbook/views/markdown.rb b/lib/runbook/views/markdown.rb
index a50341b..d584d8f 100644
--- a/lib/runbook/views/markdown.rb
+++ b/lib/runbook/views/markdown.rb
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ def self.runbook__entities__step(object, output, metadata)
     end
 
     def self.runbook__statements__ask(object, output, metadata)
-      output << "   #{object.prompt}\n\n"
+      default_msg = object.default ?  " (default: #{object.default})" : ""
+      output << "   #{object.prompt} into #{object.into}#{default_msg}\n\n"
     end
 
     def self.runbook__statements__assert(object, output, metadata)
diff --git a/spec/run_spec.rb b/spec/run_spec.rb
index 958b33d..dccb4ec 100644
--- a/spec/run_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/run_spec.rb
@@ -232,12 +232,28 @@
 
     it "prompts the user and stores the result on the parent object" do
       result = "result"
-      expect(toolbox).to receive(:ask).with(prompt).and_return(result)
+      expect(toolbox).to receive(:ask).with(prompt, default: nil).and_return(result)
 
       subject.execute(object, metadata)
 
       expect(object.parent.sky_color).to eq(result)
     end
+
+    context "when default specified" do
+      let (:default) { "Pope where a hat?" }
+      let (:object) {
+        Runbook::Statements::Ask.new(prompt, into: into, default: default)
+      }
+
+      it "passes the default value to the ask statement" do
+        result = "result"
+        expect(toolbox).to receive(:ask).with(prompt, default: default).and_return(result)
+
+        subject.execute(object, metadata)
+
+        expect(object.parent.sky_color).to eq(result)
+      end
+    end
   end
 
   describe "runbook__entities__confirm" do
diff --git a/spec/toolbox_spec.rb b/spec/toolbox_spec.rb
index c349ec4..fd2eb00 100644
--- a/spec/toolbox_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/toolbox_spec.rb
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
   let(:prompt) { instance_double("TTY::Prompt") }
   let(:toolbox) { Runbook::Toolbox.new }
   let(:msg) { "Something I want to say" }
+  let(:default) { "default" }
   let(:choices) { [
     { key: "y", name: "Yes", value: true },
   ] }
@@ -20,9 +21,14 @@
 
   describe "ask" do
     it "passes its argument to prompt.ask" do
-      expect(prompt).to receive(:ask).with(msg)
+      expect(prompt).to receive(:ask).with(msg, default: nil)
       toolbox.ask(msg)
     end
+
+    it "passes its default to prompt.ask" do
+      expect(prompt).to receive(:ask).with(msg, default: default)
+      toolbox.ask(msg, default: default)
+    end
   end
 
   describe "expand" do