Index: boost/program_options/variables_map.hpp
===================================================================
--- boost/program_options/variables_map.hpp	(revision 67142)
+++ boost/program_options/variables_map.hpp	(working copy)
@@ -68,11 +68,28 @@
        const T& as() const {
            return boost::any_cast<const T&>(v);
        }
+       template<class T>
+       const T& as(T const& default_value) const {
+           try {
+               return as<T>();
+           } catch (boost::bad_any_cast const&) {
+               return default_value;
+           }
+       }
+
        /** @overload */
        template<class T>
        T& as() {
            return boost::any_cast<T&>(v);
        }
+       template<class T>
+       T& as(T & default_value) {
+           try { 
+               return as<T>();
+           } catch (boost::bad_any_cast const&) {
+               return default_value;
+           }
+       }
 
         /// Returns true if no value is stored.
         bool empty() const;