diff --git a/src/fuse_create_base.hpp b/src/fuse_create_base.hpp
index 089053fb..5ca43a9c 100644
--- a/src/fuse_create_base.hpp
+++ b/src/fuse_create_base.hpp
@@ -29,6 +29,6 @@ namespace
   public:
     virtual int operator(char const       *fusepath,
                          mode_t const      mode,
-                         fuse_file_info_t *ffi);
+                         fuse_file_info_t *ffi) = 0;
   };
 }