diff --git a/src/Stringy.php b/src/Stringy.php
index 63dcbd8..9473214 100644
--- a/src/Stringy.php
+++ b/src/Stringy.php
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ class Stringy implements \Countable, \IteratorAggregate, \ArrayAccess
      * @throws \InvalidArgumentException if an array or object without a
      *         __toString method is passed as the first argument
      */
-    public static function create($str, $encoding = null)
+    public static function create($str = '', $encoding = null)
     {
         return new static($str, $encoding);
     }