diff --git a/docs/CHANGELOG.md b/docs/CHANGELOG.md
index 85a673190..f24beb436 100644
--- a/docs/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/docs/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ title: Changelog
 
 ## main
 
+* Fix support for the `default:` option for a global translation.
+
+    *Elia Schito*
+
 * Ensure i18n scope is a symbol to protect lookups.
 
     *Simon Fish*
diff --git a/lib/view_component/translatable.rb b/lib/view_component/translatable.rb
index 617dda144..b69227408 100644
--- a/lib/view_component/translatable.rb
+++ b/lib/view_component/translatable.rb
@@ -70,21 +70,25 @@ def translate(key = nil, **options)
       key = key&.to_s unless key.is_a?(String)
       key = "#{i18n_scope}#{key}" if key.start_with?(".")
 
-      translated =
-        catch(:exception) do
-          i18n_backend.translate(locale, key, options)
+      if key.start_with?(i18n_scope + ".")
+        translated =
+          catch(:exception) do
+            i18n_backend.translate(locale, key, options)
+          end
+
+        # Fallback to the global translations
+        if translated.is_a? ::I18n::MissingTranslation
+          return super(key, locale: locale, **options)
         end
 
-      # Fallback to the global translations
-      if translated.is_a? ::I18n::MissingTranslation
-        return super(key, locale: locale, **options)
-      end
+        if HTML_SAFE_TRANSLATION_KEY.match?(key)
+          translated = translated.html_safe # rubocop:disable Rails/OutputSafety
+        end
 
-      if HTML_SAFE_TRANSLATION_KEY.match?(key)
-        translated = translated.html_safe # rubocop:disable Rails/OutputSafety
+        translated
+      else
+        super(key, locale: locale, **options)
       end
-
-      translated
     end
     alias :t :translate
 
diff --git a/test/view_component/translatable_test.rb b/test/view_component/translatable_test.rb
index 59d63c933..1e942266c 100644
--- a/test/view_component/translatable_test.rb
+++ b/test/view_component/translatable_test.rb
@@ -43,9 +43,9 @@ def test_symbol_keys
   end
 
   def test_converts_key_to_string_as_necessary
-    key = Struct.new(:to_s).new(".hello")
+    klass = Struct.new(:to_s)
+    key = klass.new(".hello")
     assert_equal "Hello from sidecar translations!", translate(key)
-    assert_equal key, translate(:"translations.missing", default: key)
   end
 
   def test_translate_marks_translations_named_html_as_safe_html
@@ -75,6 +75,15 @@ def test_translate_uses_the_helper_when_no_sidecar_file_is_provided
     ViewComponent::CompileCache.cache.delete(TranslatableComponent)
   end
 
+  def test_default
+    default_value = Object.new
+
+    assert_equal default_value, translate(".missing", default: default_value)
+    assert_equal default_value, translate("missing", default: default_value)
+    assert_equal "Hello from Rails translations!", translate("hello", default: default_value)
+    assert_equal "Hello from sidecar translations!", translate(".hello", default: default_value)
+  end
+
   private
 
   def translate(key, **options)