diff --git a/gtsam/base/concepts.h b/gtsam/base/concepts.h
index e246a0a6c..626542fef 100644
--- a/gtsam/base/concepts.h
+++ b/gtsam/base/concepts.h
@@ -117,10 +117,12 @@ struct Manifold {
 /// A helper that implements the traits interface for GTSAM lie groups.
 /// To use this for your gtsam type, define:
 /// template<> struct traits<Type> : public LieGroup<Type> { };
-template<typename ManifoldType>
+template<typename ManifoldType,typename _group_flavor = additive_group_tag>
 struct LieGroup {
   // Typedefs required by all manifold types.
   typedef lie_group_tag structure_category;
+  typedef _group_flavor group_flavor;
+
   enum { dimension = ManifoldType::dimension };
   typedef Eigen::Matrix<double, dimension, 1> TangentVector;
   typedef OptionalJacobian<dimension, dimension> ChartJacobian;
diff --git a/gtsam/geometry/Pose2.h b/gtsam/geometry/Pose2.h
index 7dc1add70..0125e642a 100644
--- a/gtsam/geometry/Pose2.h
+++ b/gtsam/geometry/Pose2.h
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ typedef std::pair<Point2,Point2> Point2Pair;
 GTSAM_EXPORT boost::optional<Pose2> align(const std::vector<Point2Pair>& pairs);
 
 template<>
-struct traits_x<Pose2> : public internal::LieGroup<Pose2> {};
+struct traits_x<Pose2> : public internal::LieGroup<Pose2, multiplicative_group_tag> {};
 
 } // namespace gtsam
 
diff --git a/gtsam/geometry/Pose3.h b/gtsam/geometry/Pose3.h
index 853d41643..2189f5030 100644
--- a/gtsam/geometry/Pose3.h
+++ b/gtsam/geometry/Pose3.h
@@ -363,6 +363,6 @@ typedef std::pair<Point3, Point3> Point3Pair;
 GTSAM_EXPORT boost::optional<Pose3> align(const std::vector<Point3Pair>& pairs);
 
 template<>
-struct traits_x<Pose3> : public internal::LieGroup<Pose3> {};
+struct traits_x<Pose3> : public internal::LieGroup<Pose3, multiplicative_group_tag> {};
 
 } // namespace gtsam
diff --git a/gtsam/geometry/Rot2.h b/gtsam/geometry/Rot2.h
index 4ede4326f..aeaf88146 100644
--- a/gtsam/geometry/Rot2.h
+++ b/gtsam/geometry/Rot2.h
@@ -242,6 +242,6 @@ namespace gtsam {
   };
 
   template<>
-  struct traits_x<Rot2> : public internal::LieGroup<Rot2> {};
+  struct traits_x<Rot2> : public internal::LieGroup<Rot2, multiplicative_group_tag> {};
 
 } // gtsam
diff --git a/gtsam/geometry/Rot3.h b/gtsam/geometry/Rot3.h
index b043527d6..68095810c 100644
--- a/gtsam/geometry/Rot3.h
+++ b/gtsam/geometry/Rot3.h
@@ -473,6 +473,6 @@ namespace gtsam {
   GTSAM_EXPORT std::pair<Matrix3,Vector3> RQ(const Matrix3& A);
 
   template<>
-  struct traits_x<Rot3> : public internal::LieGroup<Rot3> {};
+  struct traits_x<Rot3> : public internal::LieGroup<Rot3, multiplicative_group_tag> {};
 }