diff --git a/src/mainbase.h b/src/mainbase.h
--- a/src/mainbase.h
+++ b/src/mainbase.h
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ class MainBase  {
     void Plot(int resize_stride=10);
 
     virtual void UserMessage(QString message, int timeout = 0) {
+      timeout = 0; // merely to obviate 'warning unused parameter' message
       cerr << message.toAscii().constData() << endl;
     }
     Mesh &mesh;