diff --git a/CodenameOne/src/com/codename1/ui/spinner/Picker.java b/CodenameOne/src/com/codename1/ui/spinner/Picker.java
index 5c2abe6b54..2150cabb8e 100644
--- a/CodenameOne/src/com/codename1/ui/spinner/Picker.java
+++ b/CodenameOne/src/com/codename1/ui/spinner/Picker.java
@@ -245,6 +245,16 @@ public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
                     evt.consume();
                     return;
                 }
+                // Snapshot the pre-tap state BEFORE applyDefaultDateIfNeeded()
+                // mutates `value`, so a Cancel can roll back to what the picker
+                // showed when the user tapped it (including a null placeholder
+                // that renders as "...") rather than to the just-staged default.
+                // The lightweight popup, native picker, and synchronous
+                // heavyweight Dialog branches below all use this snapshot - see
+                // the matching cancel-time restore in endEditing() (lightweight)
+                // and inline in this method (native + heavyweight). Issue #5014.
+                preEditValue = value;
+                preEditDateValueExplicitlySet = dateValueExplicitlySet;
                 // For date-type pickers that haven't been pinned with setDate, fold the
                 // resolved default into `value` before any show path reads it. Both
                 // showInteractionDialog() and the native/heavyweight branches below
@@ -280,8 +290,17 @@ public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
                         updateValue();
                     } else {
                         // cancel pressed.   Don't send the rest of the events.
+                        // Roll back the default-date staging done before the
+                        // native picker was shown, otherwise a Cancel on the
+                        // first open of a setDefaultDate-configured picker
+                        // would pin today's date into `value`. Issue #5014.
+                        value = preEditValue;
+                        dateValueExplicitlySet = preEditDateValueExplicitlySet;
+                        updateValue();
                         evt.consume();
                     }
+                    preEditValue = null;
+                    preEditDateValueExplicitlySet = false;
                     setEnabled(true);
                 } else {
                     Dialog pickerDlg = new Dialog();
@@ -336,8 +355,16 @@ public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
                                 value = cld.getTime();
                                 dateValueExplicitlySet = true;
                             } else {
+                                // Roll back the default-date staging from
+                                // applyDefaultDateIfNeeded() so a Cancel on
+                                // an unset picker doesn't pin the default
+                                // into `value`. Issue #5014.
+                                value = preEditValue;
+                                dateValueExplicitlySet = preEditDateValueExplicitlySet;
                                 evt.consume();
                             }
+                            preEditValue = null;
+                            preEditDateValueExplicitlySet = false;
                             break;
                         }
                         case Display.PICKER_TYPE_TIME: {
@@ -399,8 +426,15 @@ public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent evt) {
                                 value = cld.getTime();
                                 dateValueExplicitlySet = true;
                             } else {
+                                // Roll back the default-date staging from
+                                // applyDefaultDateIfNeeded() on Cancel.
+                                // Issue #5014.
+                                value = preEditValue;
+                                dateValueExplicitlySet = preEditDateValueExplicitlySet;
                                 evt.consume();
                             }
+                            preEditValue = null;
+                            preEditDateValueExplicitlySet = false;
                             break;
                         }
                         case Display.PICKER_TYPE_DURATION_HOURS:
@@ -612,14 +646,15 @@ private void showInteractionDialog() {
                         throw new IllegalArgumentException("Unsupported picker type " + type);
                 }
                 currentSpinner = spinner;
-                // Snapshot the committed value so a Cancel press can restore it.
-                // Custom popup buttons stage their result through setDate / setTime /
-                // setDuration / setSelectedString etc., which now mutate `value`
-                // directly so that getDate() during the edit returns the staged
-                // value; without this snapshot a Cancel after such a button would
-                // leak the staged value into the picker (#4897 follow-up).
-                preEditValue = value;
-                preEditDateValueExplicitlySet = dateValueExplicitlySet;
+                // The Cancel-restore snapshot (`preEditValue` /
+                // `preEditDateValueExplicitlySet`) is taken in the parent
+                // actionPerformed() *before* applyDefaultDateIfNeeded() runs,
+                // so it reflects the state the picker had when the user
+                // tapped it - not the post-default-staging `value`. Custom
+                // popup buttons that stage via setDate / setTime /
+                // setDuration / setSelectedString continue to be rolled back
+                // by endEditing(COMMAND_CANCEL) the same way. Issues #4897,
+                // #5014.
                 final InteractionDialog dlg = new InteractionDialog() {
 
                     ActionListener keyListener;
diff --git a/maven/core-unittests/src/test/java/com/codename1/ui/spinner/PickerDefaultDateTest.java b/maven/core-unittests/src/test/java/com/codename1/ui/spinner/PickerDefaultDateTest.java
index 16218ad921..c704bfaa7d 100644
--- a/maven/core-unittests/src/test/java/com/codename1/ui/spinner/PickerDefaultDateTest.java
+++ b/maven/core-unittests/src/test/java/com/codename1/ui/spinner/PickerDefaultDateTest.java
@@ -141,6 +141,64 @@ public Date get() {
                 "A getter that returns null must fall back to a fresh Date, never null");
     }
 
+    /// Regression for #5014: with a default-date getter installed and no
+    /// explicit `setDate(non-null)`, tapping the picker stages the resolved
+    /// default into `value` so the popup can show it. Pressing Cancel must
+    /// roll that staging back so the picker keeps showing its placeholder
+    /// ("...") and a re-open re-resolves the getter, exactly as before the
+    /// RFE #4973 change.
+    @FormTest
+    public void cancelOnFirstOpenKeepsPlaceholderAndDoesNotPinValue() {
+        TestCodenameOneImplementation impl = TestCodenameOneImplementation.getInstance();
+        if (impl != null) {
+            impl.setTablet(false);
+        }
+        final Picker picker = new Picker();
+        picker.setDefaultDate(new Picker.DateGetter() {
+            @Override
+            public Date get() {
+                return date(2030, Calendar.JUNE, 15);
+            }
+        });
+        picker.setType(Display.PICKER_TYPE_DATE);
+        picker.setUseLightweightPopup(true);
+        picker.setDate(null);
+        Assertions.assertEquals("...", picker.getText(),
+                "Before the first tap the picker must show its placeholder");
+
+        Form f = new Form(new BoxLayout(BoxLayout.Y_AXIS));
+        f.add(picker);
+        f.show();
+
+        picker.pressed();
+        picker.released();
+        runAnimations(f);
+
+        InteractionDialog dlg = findInteractionDialog(f);
+        Assertions.assertNotNull(dlg, "Lightweight popup should be open");
+        Button cancel = findButtonWithText(dlg, "Cancel");
+        Assertions.assertNotNull(cancel, "Cancel button should be present");
+        cancel.pressed();
+        cancel.released();
+        DisplayTest.flushEdt();
+        runAnimations(f);
+
+        Assertions.assertEquals("...", picker.getText(),
+                "Cancel on the first open must leave the placeholder intact (#5014)");
+        // Bump the slot the getter would return so we can prove the next
+        // getDate() call still resolves through the getter rather than
+        // returning a leaked staged value from the cancelled open.
+        final Date[] slot = new Date[] { date(2031, Calendar.FEBRUARY, 2) };
+        picker.setDefaultDate(new Picker.DateGetter() {
+            @Override
+            public Date get() {
+                return slot[0];
+            }
+        });
+        Assertions.assertEquals(slot[0], picker.getDate(),
+                "After Cancel the default getter must still drive getDate()");
+    }
+
     @FormTest
     public void cancelAfterCustomButtonRollsBackExplicitFlag() {
         TestCodenameOneImplementation impl = TestCodenameOneImplementation.getInstance();