diff --git a/src/base.ts b/src/base.ts
index 17ce3f3786..0b9efef6f6 100644
--- a/src/base.ts
+++ b/src/base.ts
@@ -243,6 +243,8 @@ export class Base {
   }>;
   protected isLoadingFromJsonValue: boolean = false;
   public loadingOwner: Base = null;
+
+  protected jsonObj: any;
   /**
    * An event that is raised when a property of this SurveyJS object has changed.
    *
@@ -375,6 +377,7 @@ export class Base {
 
   startLoadingFromJson(json?: any) {
     this.isLoadingFromJsonValue = true;
+    this.jsonObj = json;
   }
   endLoadingFromJson() {
     this.isLoadingFromJsonValue = false;
diff --git a/src/question_matrixdropdowncolumn.ts b/src/question_matrixdropdowncolumn.ts
index 7e5fcc9110..e37200d77b 100644
--- a/src/question_matrixdropdowncolumn.ts
+++ b/src/question_matrixdropdowncolumn.ts
@@ -535,6 +535,13 @@ export class MatrixDropdownColumn extends Base
         delete json["choices"];
       }
       delete json["itemComponent"];
+
+      if (this.jsonObj) {
+        Object.keys(this.jsonObj).forEach((prop) => {
+          json[prop] = this.jsonObj[prop];
+        });
+      }
+
       new JsonObject().toObject(json, question);
       question.isContentElement = this.templateQuestion.isContentElement;
       this.previousChoicesId = undefined;
diff --git a/src/question_rating.ts b/src/question_rating.ts
index 5fdc8e5169..d9bf3b4f9c 100644
--- a/src/question_rating.ts
+++ b/src/question_rating.ts
@@ -88,18 +88,12 @@ export class QuestionRatingModel extends Question {
     );
     this.initPropertyDependencies();
   }
-  private jsonObj: any;
   private setIconsToRateValues() {
     if (this.rateType == "smileys") {
       this.rateValues.map(item => item.icon = this.getItemSmiley(item));
     }
   }
 
-  startLoadingFromJson(jsonObj: any) {
-    super.startLoadingFromJson(jsonObj);
-    this.jsonObj = jsonObj;
-  }
-
   endLoadingFromJson() {
     super.endLoadingFromJson();
     this.initColors();
diff --git a/tests/question_ratingtests.ts b/tests/question_ratingtests.ts
index 3da9a5cb2f..2a9ce5f660 100644
--- a/tests/question_ratingtests.ts
+++ b/tests/question_ratingtests.ts
@@ -1340,3 +1340,56 @@ QUnit.test("check rating triggerResponsiveness method", (assert) => {
   }, 1);
 
 });
+
+QUnit.test("check rating in-matrix pre-defined items", (assert) => {
+  var json = {
+    logoPosition: "right",
+    pages: [
+      {
+        name: "page1",
+        elements: [
+          {
+            type: "matrixdropdown",
+            name: "q",
+            columns: [
+              {
+                name: "Column 1",
+                cellType: "rating",
+                rateValues: [
+                  {
+                    value: "item1",
+                    text: "Rate Item 1"
+                  },
+                  {
+                    value: "item2",
+                    text: "Rate Item 2"
+                  },
+                  {
+                    value: "item3",
+                    text: "Rate Item 3"
+                  },
+                  {
+                    value: "item4",
+                    text: "Rate Item 4"
+                  },
+                  {
+                    value: "item5",
+                    text: "Rate Item 5"
+                  }
+                ]
+              }
+            ],
+            choices: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5],
+            rows: ["Row 1", "Row 2"]
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    ]
+  };
+  const survey = new SurveyModel(json);
+  const q = survey.getQuestionByName("q") as QuestionMatrixDropdownModel;
+  var column = q.columns[0];
+  assert.equal(column.templateQuestion.rateValues.length, 5);
+  assert.equal(column.templateQuestion.autoGenerate, false);
+  //assert.notOk(column.autoGenerate);
+});