diff --git a/dart/dynamics/detail/MultiDofJointProperties.h b/dart/dynamics/detail/MultiDofJointProperties.h
index 905fe4322cd1c..daff08dc6309b 100644
--- a/dart/dynamics/detail/MultiDofJointProperties.h
+++ b/dart/dynamics/detail/MultiDofJointProperties.h
@@ -297,7 +297,8 @@ constexpr size_t MultiDofJointAddon<DOF>::NumDofs;
 template <size_t DOF>
 MultiDofJointAddon<DOF>::MultiDofJointAddon(
     common::AddonManager* mgr,
-    const typename MultiDofJointAddon::PropertiesData& properties)
+    const typename MultiDofJointAddon::PropertiesData& properties =
+        typename MultiDofJointAddon::PropertiesData())
   : common::AddonWithVersionedProperties<
         typename MultiDofJointAddon<DOF>::Derived,
         typename MultiDofJointAddon<DOF>::PropertiesData,
diff --git a/unittests/testAddon.cpp b/unittests/testAddon.cpp
index f62784f9c8635..32955427cc537 100644
--- a/unittests/testAddon.cpp
+++ b/unittests/testAddon.cpp
@@ -573,6 +573,9 @@ TEST(Addon, Joints)
   EXPECT_TRUE(usedSpecializedAddonAccess); usedSpecializedAddonAccess = false;
   universal->getUniversalJointAddon();
   EXPECT_TRUE(usedSpecializedAddonAccess); usedSpecializedAddonAccess = false;
+
+  // Regression test for issue #645
+  universal->getMultiDofJointAddon(true);
 }
 
 TEST(Addon, Duplication)