diff --git a/src/PubSubClient.cpp b/src/PubSubClient.cpp
index 43d5ef0a..e787b300 100644
--- a/src/PubSubClient.cpp
+++ b/src/PubSubClient.cpp
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 #include "PubSubClient.h"
 #include <string.h>
 
+PubSubClient::PubSubClient(){}
+
 PubSubClient::PubSubClient(Client& c) :
   _callback(NULL),
   _client(&c),
@@ -227,6 +229,15 @@ bool PubSubClient::publish(String topic, String payload) {
   return publish(pub);
 }
 
+bool PubSubClient::publish(String topic, String payload, bool retained) {
+  if (!connected())
+    return false;
+
+  MQTT::Publish pub(topic, payload);
+  pub.set_retain(retained);
+  return publish(pub);
+}
+
 bool PubSubClient::publish(String topic, const uint8_t* payload, uint32_t plength, bool retained) {
   if (!connected())
     return false;
diff --git a/src/PubSubClient.h b/src/PubSubClient.h
index ab093368..a4dc3cda 100644
--- a/src/PubSubClient.h
+++ b/src/PubSubClient.h
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ class PubSubClient {
    /*!
      Use set_server() before connect()
    */
+   PubSubClient();
    PubSubClient(Client& c);
 
    //! Constructor with the server ip address
@@ -131,6 +132,14 @@ class PubSubClient {
     */
    bool publish(String topic, String payload);
 
+   //! Publish a string payload
+   /*!
+     \param topic Topic of the message
+     \param payload String text of the message
+     \param retained If true, this message will be stored on the server and
+    */
+   bool publish(String topic, String payload, bool retained);
+
    //! Publish an arbitrary data payload
    /*!
      \param topic Topic of the message