diff --git a/src/plugin/template_filter.cpp b/src/plugin/template_filter.cpp
index e5fc8cc..4e0bc9b 100644
--- a/src/plugin/template_filter.cpp
+++ b/src/plugin/template_filter.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class PluginClassName : public Filter<json, json> {
   string kind() override { return PLUGIN_NAME; }
 
   // Implement the actual functionality here
-  return_type load_data(json const &input) override {
+  return_type load_data(json const &input, string topic = "") override {
     // Do something with the input data
     return return_type::success;
   }
diff --git a/src/plugin/template_sink.cpp b/src/plugin/template_sink.cpp
index cc40290..c7b7fc7 100644
--- a/src/plugin/template_sink.cpp
+++ b/src/plugin/template_sink.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ class PluginClassName : public Sink<json> {
   string kind() override { return PLUGIN_NAME; }
 
   // Implement the actual functionality here
-  return_type load_data(json const &input) override {
+  return_type load_data(json const &input, string topic = "") override {
     // Do something with the input data
     return return_type::success;
   }