diff --git a/include/stdex/exception.hpp b/include/stdex/exception.hpp
index af7e29bad..aa90cf2eb 100644
--- a/include/stdex/exception.hpp
+++ b/include/stdex/exception.hpp
@@ -21,8 +21,7 @@ namespace stdex
 		///
 		/// \param[in] msg  Error message
 		///
-		user_cancelled(_In_opt_z_ const char *msg = nullptr) : runtime_error(msg)
-		{
-		}
+		user_cancelled(_In_opt_z_ const char* msg = "operation cancelled") : runtime_error(msg)
+		{}
 	};
 }