diff --git a/src/bulk.cpp b/src/bulk.cpp
index f8d09e8ab29628a57ba461eafd84b48a7134578c..36e67a2dc443247fd6e69f96c0ea0bd43cac8666 100644
--- a/src/bulk.cpp
+++ b/src/bulk.cpp
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 namespace thallium {
 
-hg_bulk_t bulk::get_bulk(bool copy=false) const {
+hg_bulk_t bulk::get_bulk(bool copy) const {
     if(copy && m_bulk != HG_BULK_NULL)
         margo_bulk_ref_incr(m_bulk);
     return m_bulk;