diff --git a/src/OpenMesh/Tools/Subdivider/Uniform/SubdividerT.hh b/src/OpenMesh/Tools/Subdivider/Uniform/SubdividerT.hh
index cbf6420f..20889a08 100644
--- a/src/OpenMesh/Tools/Subdivider/Uniform/SubdividerT.hh
+++ b/src/OpenMesh/Tools/Subdivider/Uniform/SubdividerT.hh
@@ -166,8 +166,12 @@ protected:
 
   /// \name Overload theses methods
   //@{
-  /// Prepare mesh, e.g. add properties
-  virtual bool prepare( MeshType& _m ) = 0;
+  /** \brief Prepare mesh, e.g. add properties
+   *
+   *  You have to reimplement this function to setup your mesh. The default implementation
+   *  will always return false and therefore block your algorithm.
+   */
+  virtual bool prepare( MeshType& /*_m*/ ) { return false; };
 
   /// Subdivide mesh \c _m \c _n times
   virtual bool subdivide( MeshType& _m, size_t _n, const bool _update_points = true) = 0;