diff --git a/src/corelib/json/qjsonvalue.cpp b/src/corelib/json/qjsonvalue.cpp
index 36df146332..b21f59ae35 100644
--- a/src/corelib/json/qjsonvalue.cpp
+++ b/src/corelib/json/qjsonvalue.cpp
@@ -563,6 +563,22 @@ QString QJsonValue::toString(const QString &defaultValue) const
     return QString(holder);
 }
 
+/*!
+    Converts the value to a QString and returns it.
+
+    If type() is not String, a null QString will be returned.
+
+    \sa QString::isNull()
+ */
+QString QJsonValue::toString() const
+{
+    if (t != String)
+        return QString();
+    stringData->ref.ref(); // the constructor below doesn't add a ref.
+    QStringDataPtr holder = { stringData };
+    return QString(holder);
+}
+
 /*!
     Converts the value to an array and returns it.
 
diff --git a/src/corelib/json/qjsonvalue.h b/src/corelib/json/qjsonvalue.h
index 8b6221ea4c..1ce7f745e0 100644
--- a/src/corelib/json/qjsonvalue.h
+++ b/src/corelib/json/qjsonvalue.h
@@ -107,7 +107,8 @@ public:
     bool toBool(bool defaultValue = false) const;
     int toInt(int defaultValue = 0) const;
     double toDouble(double defaultValue = 0) const;
-    QString toString(const QString &defaultValue = QString()) const;
+    QString toString() const;
+    QString toString(const QString &defaultValue) const;
     QJsonArray toArray() const;
     QJsonArray toArray(const QJsonArray &defaultValue) const;
     QJsonObject toObject() const;