diff --git a/.BinaryPrefs/Appegy.BinaryStorage.csproj.DotSettings b/.BinaryPrefs/Appegy.BinaryStorage.csproj.DotSettings
index ebb0e9d..aeb09c3 100644
--- a/.BinaryPrefs/Appegy.BinaryStorage.csproj.DotSettings
+++ b/.BinaryPrefs/Appegy.BinaryStorage.csproj.DotSettings
@@ -2,4 +2,5 @@
 	<s:Boolean x:Key="/Default/CodeInspection/NamespaceProvider/NamespaceFoldersToSkip/=_002E_002E_005Cruntime_005Ccollections/@EntryIndexedValue">True</s:Boolean>
 	<s:Boolean x:Key="/Default/CodeInspection/NamespaceProvider/NamespaceFoldersToSkip/=_002E_002E_005Cruntime_005Cexceptions/@EntryIndexedValue">True</s:Boolean>
 	<s:Boolean x:Key="/Default/CodeInspection/NamespaceProvider/NamespaceFoldersToSkip/=_002E_002E_005Cruntime_005Cserialization/@EntryIndexedValue">True</s:Boolean>
+	<s:Boolean x:Key="/Default/CodeInspection/NamespaceProvider/NamespaceFoldersToSkip/=_002E_002E_005Cruntime_005Csettings/@EntryIndexedValue">True</s:Boolean>
 	<s:Boolean x:Key="/Default/CodeInspection/NamespaceProvider/NamespaceFoldersToSkip/=_002E_002E_005Cruntime_005Cutilities/@EntryIndexedValue">True</s:Boolean></wpf:ResourceDictionary>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Runtime/BinaryStorage.cs b/Runtime/BinaryStorage.cs
index df78146..a721de9 100644
--- a/Runtime/BinaryStorage.cs
+++ b/Runtime/BinaryStorage.cs
@@ -22,6 +22,11 @@ public partial class BinaryStorage : IDisposable
         /// </summary>
         public bool AutoSave { get; set; }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets or sets the behavior when a requested key is not found in the storage.
+        /// </summary>
+        public MissingKeyBehavior MissingKeyBehavior { get; set; } = MissingKeyBehavior.ReturnDefaultValueOnly;
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Gets a value indicating whether there are unsaved changes.
         /// </summary>
@@ -85,18 +90,27 @@ public virtual bool Supports<T>()
         /// </summary>
         /// <typeparam name="T">The type of the value.</typeparam>
         /// <param name="key">The key to get the value for.</param>
-        /// <param name="initValue">The initial value to use if the key does not exist.</param>
+        /// <param name="defaultValue">The default value to use if the key does not exist.</param>
         /// <returns>The value associated with the key.</returns>
-        public virtual T Get<T>(string key, T initValue = default)
+        public virtual T Get<T>(string key, T defaultValue = default)
         {
             ThrowIfDisposed();
             ThrowIfCollection<T>();
-            var record = GetRecord(key) ?? AddRecord(key, initValue);
-            if (record is not Record<T> typedRecord)
+            var record = GetRecord(key);
+            switch (record)
             {
-                throw new UnexpectedTypeException(key, nameof(Get), record.Type, typeof(T));
+                case Record<T> typedRecord:
+                    return typedRecord.Value;
+                case not null:
+                    throw new UnexpectedTypeException(key, nameof(Get), record.Type, typeof(T));
+                case null:
+                    return MissingKeyBehavior switch
+                    {
+                        MissingKeyBehavior.InitializeWithDefaultValue => AddRecord(key, defaultValue).Value,
+                        MissingKeyBehavior.ReturnDefaultValueOnly => defaultValue,
+                        _ => throw new UnexpectedEnumException(typeof(MissingKeyBehavior), MissingKeyBehavior)
+                    };
             }
-            return typedRecord.Value;
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -105,9 +119,9 @@ public virtual T Get<T>(string key, T initValue = default)
         /// <typeparam name="T">The type of the value.</typeparam>
         /// <param name="key">The key to set the value for.</param>
         /// <param name="value">The value to set.</param>
-        /// <param name="overrideTypeIfExists">Whether to override the type if the key already exists.</param>
+        /// <param name="overrideTypeMismatch">Whether to override the value if the key already exists but with another type.</param>
         /// <returns>True if the value was set; otherwise, false.</returns>
-        public virtual bool Set<T>(string key, T value, bool overrideTypeIfExists = false)
+        public virtual bool Set<T>(string key, T value, bool overrideTypeMismatch = false)
         {
             ThrowIfDisposed();
             ThrowIfCollection<T>();
@@ -124,7 +138,7 @@ public virtual bool Set<T>(string key, T value, bool overrideTypeIfExists = fals
                 return ChangeRecord(typedRecord, value);
             }
 
-            if (!overrideTypeIfExists)
+            if (!overrideTypeMismatch)
             {
                 throw new UnexpectedTypeException(key, nameof(Set), record.Type, typeof(T));
             }
@@ -295,7 +309,7 @@ private TCollection GetCollectionOf<T, TCollection>(string key)
         /// <param name="key">The key to add the record for.</param>
         /// <param name="value">The value to add.</param>
         /// <returns>The added record.</returns>
-        private Record AddRecord<T>(string key, T value)
+        private Record<T> AddRecord<T>(string key, T value)
         {
             var typeIndex = _supportedTypes.FindIndex(static c => c is TypedBinarySection<T>);
             if (typeIndex == -1)
diff --git a/Runtime/Exceptions/UnexpectedEnumException.cs b/Runtime/Exceptions/UnexpectedEnumException.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a2993b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Runtime/Exceptions/UnexpectedEnumException.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+using System;
+
+namespace Appegy.Storage
+{
+    public class UnexpectedEnumException : Exception
+    {
+        public UnexpectedEnumException(Type actualType, Enum value)
+            : base($"Unexpected enum type {actualType.Name}.{value}")
+        {
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Runtime/Exceptions/UnexpectedEnumException.cs.meta b/Runtime/Exceptions/UnexpectedEnumException.cs.meta
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9db80e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Runtime/Exceptions/UnexpectedEnumException.cs.meta
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+fileFormatVersion: 2
+guid: 5b21c62ef5a94febbb48b44a2a028238
+timeCreated: 1718985451
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Runtime/Settings.meta b/Runtime/Settings.meta
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..26af7dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Runtime/Settings.meta
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+fileFormatVersion: 2
+guid: a50c284b3de641f89748b9b07b637dea
+timeCreated: 1718983768
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Runtime/Settings/MissingKeyBehavior.cs b/Runtime/Settings/MissingKeyBehavior.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f8457d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Runtime/Settings/MissingKeyBehavior.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+namespace Appegy.Storage
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Specifies the behavior when a requested key is not found in the storage.
+    /// </summary>
+    public enum MissingKeyBehavior
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Initializes the key with the provided default value and stores it.
+        /// </summary>
+        InitializeWithDefaultValue,
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Returns the provided default value without storing it.
+        /// </summary>
+        ReturnDefaultValueOnly
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Runtime/Settings/MissingKeyBehavior.cs.meta b/Runtime/Settings/MissingKeyBehavior.cs.meta
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0fcae80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Runtime/Settings/MissingKeyBehavior.cs.meta
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+fileFormatVersion: 2
+guid: 2e3e5b590d684ac69d989d05720c7722
+timeCreated: 1718983775
\ No newline at end of file