diff --git a/src/conductor/engine/workflow.py b/src/conductor/engine/workflow.py
index 484192b..41bdf5b 100644
--- a/src/conductor/engine/workflow.py
+++ b/src/conductor/engine/workflow.py
@@ -1716,11 +1716,32 @@ async def _execute_loop(self, current_agent_name: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
             self._save_checkpoint_on_failure(e)
             raise
 
+    # Type-appropriate zero values for optional inputs with no declared default.
+    # Using None causes templates to render "None" instead of empty string,
+    # and | default() won't catch None without the boolean=true flag.
+    # Note: mutable types (array, object) return fresh copies via the method below.
+    _TYPE_ZERO_VALUES: dict[str, Any] = {
+        "string": "",
+        "number": 0,
+        "boolean": False,
+    }
+
+    def _zero_value_for_type(self, type_name: str) -> Any:
+        """Return a type-appropriate zero value, with fresh copies for mutable types."""
+        if type_name == "array":
+            return []
+        if type_name == "object":
+            return {}
+        return self._TYPE_ZERO_VALUES.get(type_name)
+
     def _apply_input_defaults(self, inputs: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
         """Apply default values from input schema for missing optional inputs.
 
         This ensures all defined inputs are present in the context, either
-        with provided values or their schema defaults (None if no default).
+        with provided values or their schema defaults. Optional inputs
+        without an explicit default get a type-appropriate zero value
+        (empty string, 0, false, [], {}) so they render cleanly in
+        templates without requiring ``| default()`` guards.
 
         Args:
             inputs: The input values provided at runtime.
@@ -1736,8 +1757,9 @@ def _apply_input_defaults(self, inputs: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
                 if input_def.default is not None:
                     merged[name] = input_def.default
                 elif not input_def.required:
-                    # Optional with no default - set to None so templates can check it
-                    merged[name] = None
+                    # Optional with no explicit default — use type-appropriate
+                    # zero value so templates render cleanly (not "None").
+                    merged[name] = self._zero_value_for_type(input_def.type)
 
         return merged
 
diff --git a/tests/test_engine/test_workflow.py b/tests/test_engine/test_workflow.py
index 14843a4..463587c 100644
--- a/tests/test_engine/test_workflow.py
+++ b/tests/test_engine/test_workflow.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
     AgentDef,
     ContextConfig,
     GateOption,
+    InputDef,
     LimitsConfig,
     OutputField,
     ParallelGroup,
@@ -298,6 +299,52 @@ def mock_handler(agent, prompt, context):
         # Workflow.input.goal should not be in agent2's context since it's not in input list
         assert "other" not in agent2_context.get("workflow", {}).get("input", {})
 
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_optional_input_defaults_render_cleanly(self) -> None:
+        """Optional inputs without defaults use type-appropriate zero values.
+
+        Ensures optional string inputs render as '' (not 'None'),
+        optional numbers as 0 (not 'None'), etc.
+        """
+        config = WorkflowConfig(
+            workflow=WorkflowDef(
+                name="optional-defaults",
+                entry_point="echo",
+                input={
+                    "required_id": InputDef(type="number", required=True),
+                    "optional_msg": InputDef(type="string", required=False),
+                    "optional_count": InputDef(type="number", required=False),
+                    "with_default": InputDef(type="string", required=False, default="hello"),
+                },
+            ),
+            agents=[
+                AgentDef(
+                    name="echo",
+                    type="script",
+                    command="pwsh",
+                    args=[
+                        "-Command",
+                        (
+                            "Write-Output 'msg={{ workflow.input.optional_msg }}"
+                            " count={{ workflow.input.optional_count }}"
+                            " def={{ workflow.input.with_default }}'; exit 0"
+                        ),
+                    ],
+                    routes=[RouteDef(to="$end")],
+                ),
+            ],
+        )
+
+        provider = CopilotProvider(mock_handler=lambda a, p, c: {})
+        engine = WorkflowEngine(config, provider)
+
+        await engine.run({"required_id": 42})
+
+        stdout = engine.context.agent_outputs["echo"]["stdout"].strip()
+        assert "msg=" in stdout
+        assert "None" not in stdout  # Should never render Python's None
+        assert "def=hello" in stdout  # Explicit default works
+
 
 class TestWorkflowEngineRouting:
     """Tests for workflow routing."""