diff --git a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/JDBCUtil.java b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/JDBCUtil.java
index 7364f21f..24fb8e76 100644
--- a/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/JDBCUtil.java
+++ b/src/java/com/samskivert/jdbc/JDBCUtil.java
@@ -438,6 +438,21 @@ public class JDBCUtil
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Returns a string representation of the default value for the specified column in the 
+     * specified table. This may be null.
+     */
+    public static String getColumnDefaultValue (Connection conn, String table, String column)
+        throws SQLException
+    {
+        ResultSet rs = getColumnMetaData(conn, table, column);
+        try {
+            return rs.getString("COLUMN_DEF");
+        } finally {
+            rs.close();
+        }
+    }
+
     /**
      * Adds a column (with name 'cname' and definition 'cdef') to the specified table.
      *