2 files changed, 7 insertions, 1 deletions
diff --git a/lib/element.cpp b/lib/element.cpp
index addc04d..861a2dc 100644
--- a/lib/element.cpp
+++ b/lib/element.cpp
@@ -46,6 +46,11 @@ ElementImpl::~ElementImpl(void)
     if (this->topology) this->hier_block_cleanup();
 }
 
+const Element &Element::get_base(void) const
+{
+    return *this;
+}
+
 long Element::unique_id(void) const
 {
     return (*this)->unique_id;
diff --git a/lib/gr_top_block.cpp b/lib/gr_top_block.cpp
index 238a643..9c4b68e 100644
--- a/lib/gr_top_block.cpp
+++ b/lib/gr_top_block.cpp
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@
 #include <gr_top_block.h>
 
 gr_top_block::gr_top_block(void):
-    gnuradio::TopBlock()
+    //cannot make a null top block, use name constructor
+    gnuradio::TopBlock("top")
 {
     //NOP
 }