diff --git a/lib/text/cue.js b/lib/text/cue.js
index 4218b07258..69acc94b8a 100644
--- a/lib/text/cue.js
+++ b/lib/text/cue.js
@@ -632,6 +632,7 @@ shaka.text.Cue = class {
     nestedCue.region = new shaka.text.CueRegion();
     nestedCue.position = null;
     nestedCue.size = 0;
+    nestedCue.textAlign = shaka.text.Cue.textAlign.CENTER;
 
     if (TXml.isNode(element)) {
       const bold = shaka.text.Cue.fontWeight.BOLD;