diff --git a/ponysay b/ponysay
index 1efa018b..36956070 100755
--- a/ponysay
+++ b/ponysay
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ VERSION = 'dev'  # this line should not be edited, it is fixed by the build syst
 '''
 Hack to enforce UTF-8 in output (in the future, if you see anypony not using utf-8 in programs by default, report them to Princess Celestia so she can banish them to the moon)
 '''
-def print(text, end = '\n'):
+def print(text = '', end = '\n'):
     sys.stdout.buffer.write((text + end).encode('utf-8'))