diff --git a/common-tools/clas-utils/src/main/java/org/jlab/utils/options/OptionValue.java b/common-tools/clas-utils/src/main/java/org/jlab/utils/options/OptionValue.java
index b354151844..5ffcac4963 100644
--- a/common-tools/clas-utils/src/main/java/org/jlab/utils/options/OptionValue.java
+++ b/common-tools/clas-utils/src/main/java/org/jlab/utils/options/OptionValue.java
@@ -53,4 +53,8 @@ public boolean parse(List<String> arguments){
         arguments.remove(index);
         return true;
     }
+
+    public boolean isDefault() {
+        return this.optionValue.equals(this.optionDefault);
+    }
 }