diff --git a/prompt_toolkit/shortcuts/dialogs.py b/prompt_toolkit/shortcuts/dialogs.py
index a91bb3142..bfb29b984 100644
--- a/prompt_toolkit/shortcuts/dialogs.py
+++ b/prompt_toolkit/shortcuts/dialogs.py
@@ -175,6 +175,7 @@ def radiolist_dialog(
     ok_text: str = "Ok",
     cancel_text: str = "Cancel",
     values: Optional[List[Tuple[_T, AnyFormattedText]]] = None,
+    default_values: List[_T] = [],
     style: Optional[BaseStyle] = None,
 ) -> Application[_T]:
     """
@@ -189,7 +190,7 @@ def radiolist_dialog(
     def ok_handler() -> None:
         get_app().exit(result=radio_list.current_value)
 
-    radio_list = RadioList(values)
+    radio_list = RadioList(values=values, default_values=default_values)
 
     dialog = Dialog(
         title=title,
@@ -213,6 +214,7 @@ def checkboxlist_dialog(
     ok_text: str = "Ok",
     cancel_text: str = "Cancel",
     values: Optional[List[Tuple[_T, AnyFormattedText]]] = None,
+    default_values: List[_T] = [],
     style: Optional[BaseStyle] = None,
 ) -> Application[List[_T]]:
     """
@@ -227,7 +229,7 @@ def checkboxlist_dialog(
     def ok_handler() -> None:
         get_app().exit(result=cb_list.current_values)
 
-    cb_list = CheckboxList(values)
+    cb_list = CheckboxList(values=values, default_values=default_values)
 
     dialog = Dialog(
         title=title,
diff --git a/prompt_toolkit/widgets/base.py b/prompt_toolkit/widgets/base.py
index 728190b54..7b5ffec36 100644
--- a/prompt_toolkit/widgets/base.py
+++ b/prompt_toolkit/widgets/base.py
@@ -686,14 +686,25 @@ class _DialogList(Generic[_T]):
     multiple_selection: bool = False
     show_scrollbar: bool = True
 
-    def __init__(self, values: Sequence[Tuple[_T, AnyFormattedText]]) -> None:
+    def __init__(
+        self, values: Sequence[Tuple[_T, AnyFormattedText]], default_values: List[_T]
+    ) -> None:
         assert len(values) > 0
 
         self.values = values
         # current_values will be used in multiple_selection,
         # current_value will be used otherwise.
-        self.current_values: List[_T] = []
-        self.current_value: _T = values[0][0]
+        candidate: List[_T] = [value for (value, _) in values]
+        self.current_values: List[_T] = [
+            default_value
+            for default_value in default_values
+            if (default_value in candidate)
+        ]
+        self.current_value: _T = (
+            default_values[0]
+            if len(default_values) and default_values[0] in candidate
+            else values[0][0]
+        )
         self._selected_index = 0
 
         # Key bindings.
@@ -859,7 +870,8 @@ class Checkbox(CheckboxList[str]):
 
     def __init__(self, text: AnyFormattedText = "", checked: bool = False) -> None:
         values = [("value", text)]
-        CheckboxList.__init__(self, values)
+        default_values = ["value"]
+        CheckboxList.__init__(self, values=values, default_values=default_values)
         self.checked = checked
 
     @property