diff --git a/modules/document/document.item.php b/modules/document/document.item.php
index 2bf792187..589a0cbd1 100644
--- a/modules/document/document.item.php
+++ b/modules/document/document.item.php
@@ -860,7 +860,7 @@ class documentItem extends Object
 				$config = $oDocumentModel->getDocumentConfig();
 				$GLOBALS['__document_config__'] = $config;
 			}
-			$thumbnail_type = $config->thumbnail_type;
+			$thumbnail_type = $config->thumbnail_type ?: 'crop';
 		}
 
 		// Define thumbnail information