diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/formula.rb b/Library/Homebrew/formula.rb
index 321599f06c..cd4db3e6cd 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/formula.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/formula.rb
@@ -661,7 +661,7 @@ class Formula
       specs.each { |spec| spec.depends_on(dep) }
     end
 
-    def option name, description=nil
+    def option name, description=""
       specs.each { |spec| spec.option(name, description) }
     end