diff --git a/lib/fileio/primUpdater.h b/lib/fileio/primUpdater.h
index 928d2f27d3..4115ab74cc 100644
--- a/lib/fileio/primUpdater.h
+++ b/lib/fileio/primUpdater.h
@@ -37,7 +37,11 @@ class UsdMayaPrimUpdater
     UsdMayaPrimUpdater(const MFnDependencyNode& depNodeFn,
                        const SdfPath& usdPath);
     
-    UsdMayaPrimUpdater() = default;
+    // clang errors if you use "= default" here, due to const SdfPath member
+    //    see: http://open-std.org/jtc1/sc22/wg21/docs/cwg_defects.html#253
+    // ...which it seems clang only implements if using newer version + cpp std
+    UsdMayaPrimUpdater() {}
+
     virtual ~UsdMayaPrimUpdater() = default;
 
     enum class Supports {