diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 3cf9707052..c3c30339d8 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #### Fixes
 
 * [#1446](https://github.com/ruby-grape/grape/pull/1446): Fix for `env` inside `before` when using not allowed method - [@leifg](https://github.com/leifg).
+* [#1438](https://github.com/ruby-grape/grape/pull/1439): Try to dup non-frozen default params with each use - [@jlfaber](https://github.com/jlfaber).
 * [#1430](https://github.com/ruby-grape/grape/pull/1430): Fix for `declared(params)` inside `route_param` - [@Arkanain](https://github.com/Arkanain).
 * [#1405](https://github.com/ruby-grape/grape/pull/1405): Fix priority of `rescue_from` clauses applying - [@hedgesky](https://github.com/hedgesky).
 * [#1365](https://github.com/ruby-grape/grape/pull/1365): Fix finding exception handler in error middleware - [@ktimothy](https://github.com/ktimothy).
diff --git a/lib/grape/validations/validators/default.rb b/lib/grape/validations/validators/default.rb
index 2184b0f3af..d93548847c 100644
--- a/lib/grape/validations/validators/default.rb
+++ b/lib/grape/validations/validators/default.rb
@@ -7,7 +7,14 @@ def initialize(attrs, options, required, scope)
       end
 
       def validate_param!(attr_name, params)
-        params[attr_name] = @default.is_a?(Proc) ? @default.call : @default unless params.key?(attr_name)
+        return if params.key? attr_name
+        params[attr_name] = if @default.is_a? Proc
+                              @default.call
+                            elsif @default.frozen? || !duplicatable?(@default)
+                              @default
+                            else
+                              duplicate(@default)
+                            end
       end
 
       def validate!(params)
@@ -20,6 +27,24 @@ def validate!(params)
           end
         end
       end
+
+      private
+
+      # return true if we might be able to dup this object
+      def duplicatable?(obj)
+        !obj.nil? &&
+          obj != true &&
+          obj != false &&
+          !obj.is_a?(Symbol) &&
+          !obj.is_a?(Numeric)
+      end
+
+      # make a best effort to dup the object
+      def duplicate(obj)
+        obj.dup
+      rescue TypeError
+        obj
+      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/grape/api/parameters_modification_spec.rb b/spec/grape/api/parameters_modification_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7bff02d5b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/grape/api/parameters_modification_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+describe Grape::Endpoint do
+  subject { Class.new(Grape::API) }
+
+  def app
+    subject
+  end
+
+  before do
+    subject.namespace :test do
+      params do
+        optional :foo, default: '-abcdef'
+      end
+      get do
+        params[:foo].slice!(0)
+        params[:foo]
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  context 'when route modifies param value' do
+    it 'param default should not change' do
+      get '/test'
+      expect(last_response.status).to eq 200
+      expect(last_response.body).to eq 'abcdef'
+
+      get '/test'
+      expect(last_response.status).to eq 200
+      expect(last_response.body).to eq 'abcdef'
+
+      get '/test?foo=-123456'
+      expect(last_response.status).to eq 200
+      expect(last_response.body).to eq '123456'
+
+      get '/test'
+      expect(last_response.status).to eq 200
+      expect(last_response.body).to eq 'abcdef'
+    end
+  end
+end