diff --git a/lib/generators/statesman/generator_helpers.rb b/lib/generators/statesman/generator_helpers.rb
index ad2dd3de..d36d8590 100644
--- a/lib/generators/statesman/generator_helpers.rb
+++ b/lib/generators/statesman/generator_helpers.rb
@@ -44,9 +44,5 @@ def mysql?
     def database_supports_partial_indexes?
       Statesman::Adapters::ActiveRecord.database_supports_partial_indexes?
     end
-
-    def metadata_default_value
-      Utils.rails_5_or_higher? ? "{}" : "{}".inspect
-    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/generators/statesman/templates/create_migration.rb.erb b/lib/generators/statesman/templates/create_migration.rb.erb
index c538adaa..93fe5253 100644
--- a/lib/generators/statesman/templates/create_migration.rb.erb
+++ b/lib/generators/statesman/templates/create_migration.rb.erb
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ class Create<%= migration_class_name %> < ActiveRecord::Migration<%= "[#{ActiveR
   def change
     create_table :<%= table_name %> do |t|
       t.string :to_state, null: false
-      t.text :metadata<%= ", default: #{metadata_default_value}" unless mysql? %>
+      t.text :metadata<%= ", default: \"{}\"" unless mysql? %>
       t.integer :sort_key, null: false
       t.integer :<%= parent_id %>, null: false
       t.boolean :most_recent<%= ", null: false" if database_supports_partial_indexes? %>
diff --git a/lib/generators/statesman/templates/update_migration.rb.erb b/lib/generators/statesman/templates/update_migration.rb.erb
index 399b1762..9ce90327 100644
--- a/lib/generators/statesman/templates/update_migration.rb.erb
+++ b/lib/generators/statesman/templates/update_migration.rb.erb
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 class AddStatesmanTo<%= migration_class_name %> < ActiveRecord::Migration<%= "[#{ActiveRecord::Migration.current_version}]" if Statesman::Utils.rails_5_or_higher? %>
   def change
     add_column :<%= table_name %>, :to_state, :string, null: false
-    add_column :<%= table_name %>, :metadata, :text<%= ", default: #{metadata_default_value}" unless mysql? %>
+    add_column :<%= table_name %>, :metadata, :text<%= ", default: \"{}\"" unless mysql? %>
     add_column :<%= table_name %>, :sort_key, :integer, null: false
     add_column :<%= table_name %>, :<%= parent_id %>, :integer, null: false
     add_column :<%= table_name %>, :most_recent, null: false
diff --git a/spec/generators/statesman/active_record_transition_generator_spec.rb b/spec/generators/statesman/active_record_transition_generator_spec.rb
index ec5569c0..f843e51d 100644
--- a/spec/generators/statesman/active_record_transition_generator_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/generators/statesman/active_record_transition_generator_spec.rb
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
     it "includes a foreign key" do
       expect(subject).to contain("add_foreign_key :bacon_transitions, :bacons")
     end
+
+    it { is_expected.to contain(/default: "{}"/) }
   end
 
   describe "properly adds class names" do
diff --git a/spec/generators/statesman/migration_generator_spec.rb b/spec/generators/statesman/migration_generator_spec.rb
index b3f2c4ba..5689fdcf 100644
--- a/spec/generators/statesman/migration_generator_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/generators/statesman/migration_generator_spec.rb
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
     it { is_expected.to contain(/:bacon_transition/) }
     it { is_expected.not_to contain(%r{:yummy/bacon}) }
     it { is_expected.to contain(/null: false/) }
+    it { is_expected.to contain(/default: "{}"/) }
 
     it "names the sorting index appropriately" do
       expect(subject).