diff --git a/telegram/inlinekeyboardbutton.py b/telegram/inlinekeyboardbutton.py
index 455748dac..1439f0b91 100644
--- a/telegram/inlinekeyboardbutton.py
+++ b/telegram/inlinekeyboardbutton.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class InlineKeyboardButton(TelegramObject):
         # Optionals
         self.url = kwargs.get('url')
         self.callback_data = kwargs.get('callback_data')
-        self.switch_inline_query = kwargs.get('switch_inline_query')
+        self.switch_inline_query = kwargs.get('switch_inline_query', '')
 
     @staticmethod
     def de_json(data):