diff --git a/app/models/spree/variant.rb b/app/models/spree/variant.rb
index 8f4f81edc6..77108bbaf4 100644
--- a/app/models/spree/variant.rb
+++ b/app/models/spree/variant.rb
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ module Spree
     }
 
     before_validation :set_cost_currency
+    before_validation :ensure_shipping_category
     before_validation :ensure_unit_value
     before_validation :update_weight_from_unit_value, if: ->(v) { v.product.present? }
 
@@ -249,6 +250,10 @@ module Spree
       self.unit_value = 1.0
     end
 
+    def ensure_shipping_category
+      self.shipping_category ||= DefaultShippingCategory.find_or_create
+    end
+
     def convert_variant_weight_to_decimal
       self.weight = weight.to_d
     end