diff --git a/opm/models/utils/propertysystem.hh b/opm/models/utils/propertysystem.hh
index 4dbce953a..8284b6822 100644
--- a/opm/models/utils/propertysystem.hh
+++ b/opm/models/utils/propertysystem.hh
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 
 #include <tuple>
 #include <type_traits>
-#include <iostream>
+#include <ostream>
 
 namespace Opm {
 namespace Properties {
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ constexpr auto getPropValue() { return Properties::Detail::GetPropImpl<TypeTag,
 
 namespace Properties {
 template <class TypeTag>
-void printValues(std::ostream& os = std::cout)
+void printValues(std::ostream& os)
 {
     os <<
     "The eWoms property system was compiled with the macro\n"
diff --git a/opm/models/utils/start.hh b/opm/models/utils/start.hh
index f9031e6cd..afbc4388b 100644
--- a/opm/models/utils/start.hh
+++ b/opm/models/utils/start.hh
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ static inline int start(int argc, char **argv,  bool registerParams=true)
         int printProps = EWOMS_GET_PARAM(TypeTag, int, PrintProperties);
         if (printProps && myRank == 0) {
             if (printProps == 1 || !isatty(fileno(stdout)))
-                Properties::printValues<TypeTag>();
+                Properties::printValues<TypeTag>(std::cout);
         }
 
         // instantiate and run the concrete problem. make sure to