diff --git a/Cantera/src/transport/TransportFactory.cpp b/Cantera/src/transport/TransportFactory.cpp
index bb3dfbcd9..50c324461 100644
--- a/Cantera/src/transport/TransportFactory.cpp
+++ b/Cantera/src/transport/TransportFactory.cpp
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ namespace Cantera {
       break;
 #endif
     default:
-      throw CanteraError("newTransport","unknown transport model");
+      throw CanteraError("newTransport","unknown transport model: " + transportModel);
     }
     phase->restoreState(state);
     return tr;
diff --git a/Cantera/src/transport/TransportFactory.h b/Cantera/src/transport/TransportFactory.h
index c89f1b7d1..299e4397f 100644
--- a/Cantera/src/transport/TransportFactory.h
+++ b/Cantera/src/transport/TransportFactory.h
@@ -128,15 +128,15 @@ namespace Cantera {
 
     /// Build a new transport manager
     virtual Transport*
-    newTransport(std::string model="", thermo_t* thermo=0, int log_level=0);
+    newTransport(std::string model, thermo_t* thermo, int log_level=0);
 
     /// Initialize an existing transport manager
     virtual void initTransport(Transport* tr,  
-			       thermo_t* thermo=0, int mode=0, int log_level=0);
+			       thermo_t* thermo, int mode=0, int log_level=0);
 
     /// Initialize an existing transport manager for liquid phase
     virtual void initLiquidTransport(Transport* tr,
-                                     thermo_t* thermo=0, 
+                                     thermo_t* thermo, 
                                      int log_level=0);