diff --git a/src/logic/operations.js b/src/logic/operations.js
index e4ec7a8..6d81f58 100644
--- a/src/logic/operations.js
+++ b/src/logic/operations.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { getParentPath } from '../logic/selection.js'
 import { getIn } from '../utils/immutabilityHelpers.js'
 import { compileJSONPointer } from '../utils/jsonPointer.js'
 import { findUniqueName } from '../utils/stringUtils.js'
-import { isObjectOrArray } from '../utils/typeUtils.js'
+import { isObject } from '../utils/typeUtils.js'
 
 /**
  * Create a JSONPatch for an insert operation.
@@ -270,16 +270,18 @@ export function createNewValue (doc, selection, type) {
     case 'array':
       return []
 
-    case 'structure':
+    case 'structure': {
       const parentPath = getParentPath(selection)
       const parent = getIn(doc, parentPath)
 
       if (Array.isArray(parent) && !isEmpty(parent)) {
         const jsonExample = first(parent)
         const structure = cloneDeepWith(jsonExample, (value) => {
-          return isObjectOrArray(value)
-            ? undefined // leave as is
-            : ''
+          return Array.isArray(value)
+            ? []
+            : isObject(value)
+              ? undefined // leave object as is, will recurse into it
+              : ''
         })
 
         console.log('structure', jsonExample, structure)
@@ -289,8 +291,10 @@ export function createNewValue (doc, selection, type) {
         // no example structure
         return ''
       }
+    }
 
-    default: ''
+    default:
+      return ''
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/logic/operations.test.js b/src/logic/operations.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..698cd37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/logic/operations.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+import assert from 'assert'
+import { createNewValue } from './operations.js'
+
+describe('operations', () => {
+  describe('createNewValue', () => {
+    it('should create a value of type "value"', () => {
+      assert.strictEqual(createNewValue({}, null, 'value'), '')
+    })
+
+    it('should create a value of type "object"', () => {
+      assert.deepStrictEqual(createNewValue({}, null, 'object'), {})
+    })
+
+    it('should create a value of type "array"', () => {
+      assert.deepStrictEqual(createNewValue({}, null, 'array'), [])
+    })
+
+    it('should create a simple value via type "structure"', () => {
+      assert.deepStrictEqual(createNewValue([1, 2, 3], { paths: [[0]] }, 'structure'), '')
+    })
+
+    it('should create a nested object via type "structure"', () => {
+      const doc = [
+        {
+          a: 2,
+          b: {
+            c: 3
+          },
+          d: [1, 2, 3]
+        }
+      ]
+
+      assert.deepStrictEqual(createNewValue(doc, { paths: [[0]] }, 'structure'), {
+        a: '',
+        b: {
+          c: ''
+        },
+        d: []
+      })
+    })
+  })
+})