diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 320b330..4d36427 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -72,6 +72,11 @@
 AC_DEFINE(IBM_LOGGING_BUSNAME, "com.ibm.Logging",
           [The IBM log manager DBus busname to own])
 
+AC_DEFINE(DEFAULT_POLICY_EID, "None",
+          [The default event ID to use])
+AC_DEFINE(DEFAULT_POLICY_MSG, "An internal BMC error occurred",
+          [The default policy message to use])
+
 AC_ARG_VAR(POLICY_JSON_PATH, [The path to the policy json file])
 AS_IF([test "x$POLICY_JSON_PATH" == "x"], [POLICY_JSON_PATH="/usr/share/ibm-logging/policy.json"])
 AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED([POLICY_JSON_PATH], ["$POLICY_JSON_PATH"], [The path to the policy json file on the BMC])
diff --git a/policy_table.hpp b/policy_table.hpp
index a44bf0b..07226e6 100644
--- a/policy_table.hpp
+++ b/policy_table.hpp
@@ -83,7 +83,38 @@
                 const std::string& error,
                 const std::string& modifier) const;
 
+        /**
+         * The default event ID to use when a match in the table
+         * wasn't found.
+         *
+         * @return std::string
+         */
+        inline std::string defaultEID() const
+        {
+            return defaultPolicyEID;
+        }
+
+        /**
+         * The default error message to use when a match in the table
+         * wasn't found.
+         *
+         * @return std::string
+         */
+        inline std::string defaultMsg() const
+        {
+            return defaultPolicyMessage;
+        }
+
     private:
+        /**
+         * The default event ID
+         */
+        const std::string defaultPolicyEID{DEFAULT_POLICY_EID};
+
+        /**
+         * The default event message
+         */
+        const std::string defaultPolicyMessage{DEFAULT_POLICY_MSG};
 
         /**
          * Loads the JSON data into the PolicyMap map