diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..604dd83
--- /dev/null
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+module github.com/nerdynz/trove
+
+go 1.12
+
+require github.com/joho/godotenv v1.3.0
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ead7071
--- /dev/null
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+github.com/joho/godotenv v1.3.0 h1:Zjp+RcGpHhGlrMbJzXTrZZPrWj+1vfm90La1wgB6Bhc=
+github.com/joho/godotenv v1.3.0/go.mod h1:7hK45KPybAkOC6peb+G5yklZfMxEjkZhHbwpqxOKXbg=
diff --git a/trove.go b/trove.go
index b89023b..ce33a2e 100644
--- a/trove.go
+++ b/trove.go
@@ -143,13 +143,21 @@ func (s *Settings) GetBool(setting string) bool {
 	return val
 }
 
+// Get gets and caches an ENV setting. theDefault will be used if setting is blank and is optional
 func (s *Settings) Get(setting string) string {
+	return s.GetWithDefault(setting, "")
+}
+
+func (s *Settings) GetWithDefault(setting string, theDefault string) string {
 	val, ok := s.strings[setting]
 	if !ok {
 		s.sLock.Lock() // map is shared across the whole application, so it needs to be
 		defer s.sLock.Unlock()
 
 		newVal := os.Getenv(setting)
+		if newVal == "" && theDefault != "" {
+			return theDefault
+		}
 		s.strings[setting] = newVal
 		val = newVal
 	}