diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index 97d30fb..43e7f2d 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ let include = require('reshape-include')
 let layouts = require('reshape-layouts')
 let retext = require('reshape-retext')
 
-module.exports = function spikeHtmlStandards (options) {
+module.exports = function spikeHtmlStandards (options = {}) {
   // set options using webpack shortcut if present
   if (options.webpack) {
     options.filename = options.webpack.resourcePath