diff --git a/modules/beast_core/threads/beast_Thread.h b/modules/beast_core/threads/beast_Thread.h
index e0d28b64a..0dda1f9c4 100644
--- a/modules/beast_core/threads/beast_Thread.h
+++ b/modules/beast_core/threads/beast_Thread.h
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ public:
                                     is less than zero, it will wait forever.
         @returns    true if the thread exits, or false if the timeout expires first.
     */
-    bool waitForThreadToExit (int timeOutMilliseconds) const;
+    bool waitForThreadToExit (int timeOutMilliseconds = -1) const;
 
     //==============================================================================
     /** Changes the thread's priority.