diff --git a/src/Relations/BelongsToThrough.php b/src/Relations/BelongsToThrough.php
index 56f0209..f2f2649 100644
--- a/src/Relations/BelongsToThrough.php
+++ b/src/Relations/BelongsToThrough.php
@@ -5,12 +5,15 @@
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Builder;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Collection;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
+use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Relations\Concerns\SupportsDefaultModels;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Relations\Relation;
 use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\SoftDeletes;
 use Illuminate\Support\Str;
 
 class BelongsToThrough extends Relation
 {
+    use SupportsDefaultModels;
+
     /**
      * The column alias for the local key on the first "through" parent model.
      *
@@ -153,7 +156,7 @@ public function addEagerConstraints(array $models)
     public function initRelation(array $models, $relation)
     {
         foreach ($models as $model) {
-            $model->setRelation($relation, null);
+            $model->setRelation($relation, $this->getDefaultFor($model));
         }
 
         return $models;
@@ -208,7 +211,7 @@ protected function buildDictionary(Collection $results)
      */
     public function getResults()
     {
-        return $this->first();
+        return $this->first() ?: $this->getDefaultFor($this->parent);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/tests/BelongsToThroughTest.php b/tests/BelongsToThroughTest.php
index e88e974..c0cfcaa 100644
--- a/tests/BelongsToThroughTest.php
+++ b/tests/BelongsToThroughTest.php
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 namespace Tests;
 
 use Tests\Models\Comment;
+use Tests\Models\Country;
 
 class BelongsToThroughTest extends TestCase
 {
@@ -38,7 +39,15 @@ public function testLazyLoadingWithSoftDeletes()
     {
         $country = Comment::find(33)->country;
 
-        $this->assertNull($country);
+        $this->assertFalse($country->exists);
+    }
+
+    public function testLazyLoadingWithDefault()
+    {
+        $country = Comment::find(33)->country;
+
+        $this->assertInstanceOf(Country::class, $country);
+        $this->assertFalse($country->exists);
     }
 
     public function testEagerLoading()
@@ -47,7 +56,8 @@ public function testEagerLoading()
 
         $this->assertEquals(1, $comments[0]->country->id);
         $this->assertEquals(2, $comments[1]->country->id);
-        $this->assertNull($comments[2]->country);
+        $this->assertInstanceOf(Country::class, $comments[2]->country);
+        $this->assertFalse($comments[2]->country->exists);
     }
 
     public function testEagerLoadingWithPrefix()
@@ -64,7 +74,8 @@ public function testLazyEagerLoading()
 
         $this->assertEquals(1, $comments[0]->country->id);
         $this->assertEquals(2, $comments[1]->country->id);
-        $this->assertNull($comments[2]->country);
+        $this->assertInstanceOf(Country::class, $comments[2]->country);
+        $this->assertFalse($comments[2]->country->exists);
     }
 
     public function testExistenceQuery()
diff --git a/tests/Models/Comment.php b/tests/Models/Comment.php
index d94872c..cc961dd 100644
--- a/tests/Models/Comment.php
+++ b/tests/Models/Comment.php
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ class Comment extends Model
 {
     public function country()
     {
-        return $this->belongsToThrough(Country::class, [User::class, Post::class]);
+        return $this->belongsToThrough(Country::class, [User::class, Post::class])->withDefault();
     }
 
     public function countryWithCustomForeignKeys()