diff --git a/gtsam/geometry/Cyclic.h b/gtsam/geometry/Cyclic.h
index 88a04ab2d..15d8154b8 100644
--- a/gtsam/geometry/Cyclic.h
+++ b/gtsam/geometry/Cyclic.h
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ public:
   /// Default constructor yields identity
   Cyclic():i_(0) {
   }
+  static Cyclic identity() { return Cyclic();}
+
   /// Cast to size_t
   operator size_t() const {
     return i_;