diff --git a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/clientapi/routing/createroom.go b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/clientapi/routing/createroom.go
index e5e52016..7b32ca50 100644
--- a/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/clientapi/routing/createroom.go
+++ b/src/github.com/matrix-org/dendrite/clientapi/routing/createroom.go
@@ -88,8 +88,7 @@ func (r createRoomRequest) Validate() *util.JSONResponse {
 		}
 	}
 	switch r.Preset {
-	case presetPrivateChat, presetTrustedPrivateChat, presetPublicChat:
-		break
+	case presetPrivateChat, presetTrustedPrivateChat, presetPublicChat, "":
 	default:
 		return &util.JSONResponse{
 			Code: http.StatusBadRequest,
@@ -181,6 +180,11 @@ func createRoom(req *http.Request, device *authtypes.Device,
 	case presetPublicChat:
 		joinRules = joinRulePublic
 		historyVisibility = historyVisibilityShared
+	default:
+		// Default room rules, r.Preset was previously checked for valid values so
+		// only a request with no preset should end up here.
+		joinRules = joinRuleInvite
+		historyVisibility = historyVisibilityShared
 	}
 
 	var builtEvents []gomatrixserverlib.Event