diff --git a/cassandra/cqlengine/columns.py b/cassandra/cqlengine/columns.py
index 79787c2d..bfa6a14a 100644
--- a/cassandra/cqlengine/columns.py
+++ b/cassandra/cqlengine/columns.py
@@ -54,11 +54,10 @@ class BaseValueManager(object):
             default_value = self.column.get_default()
             if self.column._val_is_null(default_value):
                 return not self.column._val_is_null(self.value) and self.value != self.previous_value
-            else:
-                if self.previous_value is None:
-                    return self.value != default_value
-                else:
-                    return self.value != self.previous_value
+            elif self.previous_value is None:
+                return self.value != default_value
+
+            return self.value != self.previous_value
 
         return False