diff --git a/beeref/items.py b/beeref/items.py
index 1857ff7..8b0173f 100644
--- a/beeref/items.py
+++ b/beeref/items.py
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class BeeItemMixin(SelectableMixin):
         self.setZValue(kwargs.get('z', self.zValue()))
         self.setScale(kwargs.get('scale', self.scale()))
         self.setRotation(kwargs.get('rotation', self.rotation()))
-        if kwargs.get('flip') != self.flip():
+        if kwargs.get('flip', 1) != self.flip():
             self.do_flip()
 
 
diff --git a/tests/items/test_pixmapitem.py b/tests/items/test_pixmapitem.py
index 27f809e..25da944 100644
--- a/tests/items/test_pixmapitem.py
+++ b/tests/items/test_pixmapitem.py
@@ -149,6 +149,7 @@ def test_update_from_data_keeps_unset_values(item):
     item.setScale(3)
     item.update_from_data(rotation=45)
     assert item.scale() == 3
+    assert item.flip() == 1
 
 
 def test_create_from_data(item):
diff --git a/tests/items/test_textitem.py b/tests/items/test_textitem.py
index b2a5485..6e9bb06 100644
--- a/tests/items/test_textitem.py
+++ b/tests/items/test_textitem.py
@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@ def test_update_from_data_keeps_unset_values(qapp):
     item.setScale(3)
     item.update_from_data(rotation=45)
     assert item.scale() == 3
+    assert item.flip() == 1
 
 
 def test_create_from_data(qapp):