diff --git a/sklearn/utils/estimator_checks.py b/sklearn/utils/estimator_checks.py
index 5d72f81182424..95eb096a0f324 100644
--- a/sklearn/utils/estimator_checks.py
+++ b/sklearn/utils/estimator_checks.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import print_function
 
+import types
 import warnings
 import sys
 import traceback
@@ -12,12 +13,13 @@
 import struct
 
 from sklearn.externals.six.moves import zip
-from sklearn.externals.joblib import hash
+from sklearn.externals.joblib import hash, Memory
 from sklearn.utils.testing import assert_raises
 from sklearn.utils.testing import assert_raises_regex
 from sklearn.utils.testing import assert_raise_message
 from sklearn.utils.testing import assert_equal
 from sklearn.utils.testing import assert_true
+from sklearn.utils.testing import assert_in
 from sklearn.utils.testing import assert_array_equal
 from sklearn.utils.testing import assert_array_almost_equal
 from sklearn.utils.testing import assert_warns_message
@@ -1241,6 +1243,8 @@ def check_parameters_default_constructible(name, Estimator):
         else:
             return
         for arg, default in zip(args, defaults):
+            assert_in(type(default), [str, int, float, bool, tuple, type(None),
+                                      np.float64, types.FunctionType, Memory])
             if arg not in params.keys():
                 # deprecated parameter, not in get_params
                 assert_true(default is None)