diff --git a/src/Feeds/Target/EntityReference.php b/src/Feeds/Target/EntityReference.php
index 25c2fec2..248dbaf4 100644
--- a/src/Feeds/Target/EntityReference.php
+++ b/src/Feeds/Target/EntityReference.php
@@ -141,10 +141,17 @@ class EntityReference extends FieldTargetBase implements ConfigurableTargetInter
       if ($entity_target) {
         $item_list = $entity_target->get($field_name);
 
-        // Append these values to the existing values.
-        $values = array_merge($item_list->getValue(), $values);
+        $field_def = $item_list->getFieldDefinition()->getDefaultValueLiteral();
+        if (empty($field_def)) {
+          // Append these values to the existing values.
+          $values = array_merge($item_list->getValue(), $values);
+          $item_list->setValue($values);
+        }
+        else {
+          // Don't append the default value.
+          $item_list->setValue($values);
+        }
 
-        $item_list->setValue($values);
       }
     }
   }
