diff --git a/goblin/element.py b/goblin/element.py
index 23ba710b583ba40a2818ef42337537dbc7bb104b..ad382c039e7d8a2864bde8b36f77f699ff4910df 100644
--- a/goblin/element.py
+++ b/goblin/element.py
@@ -154,12 +154,11 @@ class VertexProperty(Vertex, abc.BaseProperty):
 
     __descriptor__ = VertexPropertyDescriptor
 
-    def __init__(self, data_type, *, val=None, default=None, db_name=None,
+    def __init__(self, data_type, *, default=None, db_name=None,
                  card=None):
         if isinstance(data_type, type):
             data_type = data_type()
         self._data_type = data_type
-        self._val = val
         self._default = default
         self._db_name = db_name
         if card is None:
@@ -180,6 +179,8 @@ class VertexProperty(Vertex, abc.BaseProperty):
     def setvalue(self, val):
         self._val = val
 
+    value = property(getvalue, setvalue)
+
     @property
     def db_name(self):
         return self._db_name