diff --git a/src/points.js b/src/points.js
index 2fb8b0b..d2b7f6f 100644
--- a/src/points.js
+++ b/src/points.js
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ const render_zone = exports._render_zone = (zone_name, zone, anchor, global_key,
             'number'
         )(units)
         col.spread = a.sane(
-            col.spread || (first_col ? 0 : 'u'),
+            col.spread !== undefined ? col.spread : (first_col ? 0 : 'u'),
             `points.zones.${zone_name}.columns.${col_name}.spread`,
             'number'
         )(units)
@@ -323,4 +323,4 @@ exports.visualize = (points, units) => {
         models[pname] = p.position(rect)
     }
     return {models: models}
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}