diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index d04362a..9edfe29 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ var util = require('util'),
 
 
 var WinstonCloudWatch = function(options) {
+  options = options || {};
   winston.Transport.call(this, options);
   this.level = options.level || 'info';
   this.name = options.name || 'CloudWatch';