diff --git a/booking.variety_admin.inc b/booking.variety_admin.inc
index 1308056..bc7546b 100644
--- a/booking.variety_admin.inc
+++ b/booking.variety_admin.inc
@@ -676,13 +676,15 @@ function booking_variety_regn_edit_form($node, &$form_state, $nid)
     //for each entry in the variety timeslot table, create a new form select item
     foreach($timeslot_result as $timeslot) {
       $fieldname = 'select-variety-' . $timeslot->tid;
+      $default = isset($session_ids[$timeslot->tid]) ? $session_ids[$timeslot->tid] : '--';
+      $default_value = isset($form_state['values'][$fieldname]) ? $form_state['values'][$fieldname] : $default;
 
       //create the form element for this timeslot
       $form['variety-sessions'][$fieldname] = array(
         '#type' => 'select',
         '#title' => t('Variety Session: ' . $timeslot->booking_variety_time_descrip),
         '#required' => TRUE,
-        '#default_value' => isset($form_state['values'][$fieldname]) ? $form_state['values'][$fieldname] : $session_ids[$timeslot->tid],
+        '#default_value' => $default_value,
         '#options' => _booking_get_variety_timeslot_options($timeslot->tid),        
       );
     }