diff --git a/src/serialize/primitive.rs b/src/serialize/primitive.rs
index 09e26db..3d7c751 100644
--- a/src/serialize/primitive.rs
+++ b/src/serialize/primitive.rs
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ macro_rules! impl_complex_serializable {
         /// _This impl is only available with the **`"complex"`** feature._
         impl AutoSerialize for Complex<$float> {
             fn default_dtype() -> DType {
-                DType::new_scalar(TypeStr::with_auto_endianness(TypeChar::Complex, $size, None))
+                DType::new_scalar(TypeStr::with_auto_endianness(TypeChar::Complex, 2 * $size, None))
             }
         }
     )+};
@@ -498,4 +498,11 @@ mod tests {
             assert_eq!(u32::default_dtype().descr(), "'<u4'");
         }
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    #[cfg(feature = "complex")]
+    fn default_complex_type_strs() {
+        assert_eq!(Complex::<f32>::default_dtype().descr(), "'<c8'");
+        assert_eq!(Complex::<f64>::default_dtype().descr(), "'<c16'");
+    }
 }