diff --git a/Subtrees/beast/modules/beast_core/diagnostic/beast_UnitTest.cpp b/Subtrees/beast/modules/beast_core/diagnostic/beast_UnitTest.cpp
index 96db552226..603e005472 100644
--- a/Subtrees/beast/modules/beast_core/diagnostic/beast_UnitTest.cpp
+++ b/Subtrees/beast/modules/beast_core/diagnostic/beast_UnitTest.cpp
@@ -135,9 +135,7 @@ void UnitTest::pass ()
     // If this goes off it means you forgot to call beginTestCase()!
     bassert (m_case != nullptr);
 
-    Item item (true);
-
-    m_case->items.add (item);
+    m_case->items.add (Item (true));
 }
 
 void UnitTest::fail (String const& failureMessage)
@@ -148,7 +146,7 @@ void UnitTest::fail (String const& failureMessage)
     Item item (false, failureMessage);
 
     m_case->failures++;
-    int const caseNumber = m_case->items.add (item);
+    int const caseNumber = m_case->items.add (Item (false, failureMessage));
 
     String s;
     s << "#" << String (caseNumber) << " failed: " << failureMessage;
diff --git a/Subtrees/beast/modules/beast_core/diagnostic/beast_UnitTest.h b/Subtrees/beast/modules/beast_core/diagnostic/beast_UnitTest.h
index abf654c3e2..2c67a5e6b9 100644
--- a/Subtrees/beast/modules/beast_core/diagnostic/beast_UnitTest.h
+++ b/Subtrees/beast/modules/beast_core/diagnostic/beast_UnitTest.h
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ public:
     void pass ();
 
     /** Causes the test item to fail. */
-    void fail (String const& failureMessage);
+    void fail (String const& failureMessage = String::empty);
 
     /** Records an exception in the test item. */
     void failException ();