diff --git a/OptionParser.h b/OptionParser.h
index ccafbc5..fb80b93 100644
--- a/OptionParser.h
+++ b/OptionParser.h
@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ class Values {
     bool is_set_by_user(const std::string& d) const { return _userSet.find(d) != _userSet.end(); }
     void is_set_by_user(const std::string& d, bool yes);
     Value get(const std::string& d) const { return (is_set(d)) ? Value((*this)[d]) : Value(); }
+    template<typename T>
+    T get(const std::string& d) const { return (is_set(d)) ? Value((*this)[d]) : T(); }
 
     typedef std::list<std::string>::iterator iterator;
     typedef std::list<std::string>::const_iterator const_iterator;
diff --git a/testprog.cpp b/testprog.cpp
index ac68f1f..397dcf4 100644
--- a/testprog.cpp
+++ b/testprog.cpp
@@ -141,7 +141,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
   cout << "k: " << options["k"] << endl;
   cout << "verbosity: " << options["verbosity"] << endl;
   cout << "number: " << (int) options.get("number") << endl;
-  cout << "int: " << (int) options.get("int") << endl;
+  // test template getter
+  cout << "int: " << options.get<int>("int") << endl;
   cout << "float: " << (float) options.get("float") << endl;
   complex<double> c = 0;
   if (options.is_set("complex")) {