diff --git a/src/hb-serialize.hh b/src/hb-serialize.hh
index 451afc340..2b51f0f5d 100644
--- a/src/hb-serialize.hh
+++ b/src/hb-serialize.hh
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ struct hb_serialize_context_t
     link ();
   }
 
-  template <typename Type>
+  template <typename Type = void>
   Type *push ()
   {
     object_t obj;
@@ -218,6 +218,11 @@ struct hb_serialize_context_t
     assert (packed.tail ().head == tail);
   }
 
+  template <typename T>
+  void add_link (T &ofs, objidx_t objidx, const void *base)
+  {
+  }
+
   void link ()
   {
     assert (!current.length);