diff --git a/flytekit/core/promise.py b/flytekit/core/promise.py
index aa4e5f3150a..39c3e8dd38b 100644
--- a/flytekit/core/promise.py
+++ b/flytekit/core/promise.py
@@ -1064,7 +1064,11 @@ def create_and_link_node(
                                 f"The default value for the optional type must be None, but got {_default}"
                             )
                         is_optional = True
-            if not is_optional:
+            if is_optional:
+                continue
+            if k in interface.inputs_with_defaults:
+                kwargs[k] = interface.inputs_with_defaults[k][1]
+            else:
                 from flytekit.core.base_task import Task
 
                 error_msg = f"Input {k} of type {interface.inputs[k]} was not specified for function {entity.name}"
@@ -1077,8 +1081,6 @@ def create_and_link_node(
                     )
 
                 raise _user_exceptions.FlyteAssertion(error_msg)
-            else:
-                continue
         v = kwargs[k]
         # This check ensures that tuples are not passed into a function, as tuples are not supported by Flyte
         # Usually a Tuple will indicate that multiple outputs from a previous task were accidentally passed
diff --git a/tests/flytekit/unit/core/test_promise.py b/tests/flytekit/unit/core/test_promise.py
index 74f3db99e33..94ad6c46612 100644
--- a/tests/flytekit/unit/core/test_promise.py
+++ b/tests/flytekit/unit/core/test_promise.py
@@ -46,6 +46,14 @@ def t2(a: typing.Optional[int] = None) -> typing.Optional[int]:
     assert p.ref.var == "o0"
     assert len(p.ref.node.bindings) == 0
 
+    @task
+    def t_default_value(a: int = 1) -> typing.Optional[int]:
+        return a
+
+    p = create_and_link_node(ctx, t_default_value)
+    assert p.ref.var == "o0"
+    assert len(p.ref.node.bindings) == 1
+
 
 def test_create_and_link_node_from_remote():
     @task