diff --git a/include/wx/spinctrl.h b/include/wx/spinctrl.h
index 3c49cb6f31..42d2af59c4 100644
--- a/include/wx/spinctrl.h
+++ b/include/wx/spinctrl.h
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ public:
     wxSpinCtrlBase() {}
 
     // accessor functions that derived classes are expected to have
-    virtual wxString GetTextValue() const { return wxString(); }
+    virtual wxString GetTextValue() const = 0;
     // T GetValue() const
     // T GetMin() const
     // T GetMax() const