diff --git a/packages/survey-creator-core/src/components/matrix-cell.ts b/packages/survey-creator-core/src/components/matrix-cell.ts
index c960be5871..23659d9542 100644
--- a/packages/survey-creator-core/src/components/matrix-cell.ts
+++ b/packages/survey-creator-core/src/components/matrix-cell.ts
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@ export class MatrixCellWrapperEditSurvey {
         questionJSON[key] = !columnJSON[key];
       }
     }
+    if(column.cellType === "default") {
+      column.cellType = qType;
+    }
     for(let key in questionJSON) {
       if(!Helpers.isTwoValueEquals(questionJSON[key], columnJSON[key])) {
         column[key] = questionJSON[key];
diff --git a/packages/survey-creator-core/tests/question-editors.tests.ts b/packages/survey-creator-core/tests/question-editors.tests.ts
index c6c2973b8d..45d03e8acc 100644
--- a/packages/survey-creator-core/tests/question-editors.tests.ts
+++ b/packages/survey-creator-core/tests/question-editors.tests.ts
@@ -315,3 +315,27 @@ test("Edit matrix cell question & showInMultipleColumns, #5750", (): any => {
   expect(creator.propertyGrid.getQuestionByName("showNoneItem").value).toBeFalsy();
   expect(matrix.columns[0].choices).toHaveLength(2);
 });
+test("Edit matrix cell question & default cellType, #5976", (): any => {
+  const creator = new CreatorTester();
+  creator.JSON = {
+    "elements": [
+      {
+        "type": "matrixdropdown",
+        "name": "q1",
+        "columns": [{ name: "column1" }],
+        "rows": ["row1", "row2"],
+        choices: [1, 2, 3, 4]
+      }
+    ]
+  };
+  const matrix = <QuestionMatrixDropdownModel>creator.survey.getQuestionByName("q1");
+  creator.selectElement(matrix.columns[0]);
+  let question = matrix.visibleRows[0].cells[0].question;
+  let editSurvey = new MatrixCellWrapperEditSurvey(creator, question, matrix.columns[0]);
+  let editQuestion = <QuestionCheckboxModel>editSurvey.question;
+  expect(editQuestion.getType()).toEqual("dropdown");
+  editQuestion.choices = [1, 2];
+  editSurvey.apply();
+  expect(matrix.columns[0].cellType).toBe("dropdown");
+  expect(matrix.columns[0].choices).toHaveLength(2);
+});