diff --git a/packages/uniforms/src/helpers/connectField.js b/packages/uniforms/src/helpers/connectField.js
index 6232b9896..bc0862011 100644
--- a/packages/uniforms/src/helpers/connectField.js
+++ b/packages/uniforms/src/helpers/connectField.js
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ export default function connectField (component, {
                     return;
                 }
 
-                if (props.value === undefined && !props.field.optional) {
+                if (props.value === undefined && props.required) {
                     props.onChange(props.initialValue);
                 }
             }
diff --git a/packages/uniforms/test/helpers/connectField.js b/packages/uniforms/test/helpers/connectField.js
index 4458dcfaf..c3de19299 100644
--- a/packages/uniforms/test/helpers/connectField.js
+++ b/packages/uniforms/test/helpers/connectField.js
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ describe('connectField', () => {
         getDefinition (name) {
             return {
                 'field':          {type: Object, label: 'Field'},
-                'field.subfield': {type: Number, label: 'Subfield'}
+                'field.subfield': {type: Number, label: 'Subfield'},
+                'another':        {type: String, optional: true}
             }[name];
         },
 
@@ -142,6 +143,17 @@ describe('connectField', () => {
 
             expect(onChange.called).to.be.false;
         });
+
+        it('respects `required`', () => {
+            const Field = connectField(Test, {initialValue: true});
+
+            mount(
+                <Field name="another" />,
+                reactContext
+            );
+
+            expect(onChange.called).to.be.false;
+        });
     });
 
     context('when called with `mapProps`', () => {