diff --git a/tools/python/jwutils/stree/StringTree.py b/tools/python/jwutils/stree/StringTree.py
index 2f9d0b4..5bce6db 100644
--- a/tools/python/jwutils/stree/StringTree.py
+++ b/tools/python/jwutils/stree/StringTree.py
@@ -171,10 +171,12 @@ class StringTree: # export
         relpath = '.'.join(components[1:])
         return self.children[name].get(relpath)
 
-    def value(self, path = None) -> Optional[str]:
+    def value(self, path = None, default=None) -> Optional[str]:
         if path:
             child = self.get(path)
             if child is None:
+                if default:
+                    return default
                 return None
             return child.value()
         if len(self.children) == 0: