diff --git a/src/OpenMesh/Tools/Subdivider/Uniform/SubdividerT.hh b/src/OpenMesh/Tools/Subdivider/Uniform/SubdividerT.hh
index 81d5917d..cbf6420f 100644
--- a/src/OpenMesh/Tools/Subdivider/Uniform/SubdividerT.hh
+++ b/src/OpenMesh/Tools/Subdivider/Uniform/SubdividerT.hh
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ protected:
   /// \name Overload theses methods
   //@{
   /// Prepare mesh, e.g. add properties
-  virtual bool prepare( MeshType&  /*_m*/ ) { return true; };
+  virtual bool prepare( MeshType& _m ) = 0;
 
   /// Subdivide mesh \c _m \c _n times
   virtual bool subdivide( MeshType& _m, size_t _n, const bool _update_points = true) = 0;