diff --git a/XMPPHP/XMPP.php b/XMPPHP/XMPP.php
index a69a647..b96fe25 100644
--- a/XMPPHP/XMPP.php
+++ b/XMPPHP/XMPP.php
@@ -144,6 +144,11 @@ class XMPPHP_XMPP extends XMPPHP_XMLStream {
 	 * @param string $subject
 	 */
 	public function message($to, $body, $type = 'chat', $subject = null, $payload = null) {
+	    if(is_null($type))
+	    {
+	        $type = 'chat';
+	    }
+	    
 		$to	  = htmlspecialchars($to);
 		$body	= htmlspecialchars($body);
 		$subject = htmlspecialchars($subject);