diff --git a/IlmBase/HalfTest/testClassification.cpp b/IlmBase/HalfTest/testClassification.cpp
index 4bf9dec532..0c1727ba17 100644
--- a/IlmBase/HalfTest/testClassification.cpp
+++ b/IlmBase/HalfTest/testClassification.cpp
@@ -11,12 +11,14 @@
 #include "half.h"
 #include <iostream>
 #include <assert.h>
-
+#include <type_traits>
 
 using namespace std;
 
 namespace {
 
+static_assert(std::is_trivially_default_constructible<half>::value, "half is trivial and default constructible");
+
 void
 testClass (half h,
 	   bool finite,