diff --git a/Foundation/include/Poco/Activity.h b/Foundation/include/Poco/Activity.h
index 66c80d9ae..29c4d4c32 100644
--- a/Foundation/include/Poco/Activity.h
+++ b/Foundation/include/Poco/Activity.h
@@ -121,6 +121,11 @@ public:
 	void start()
 		/// Starts the activity by acquiring a
 		/// thread for it from the default thread pool.
+	{
+		start(ThreadPool::defaultPool());
+	}
+
+	void start(ThreadPool& pool)
 	{
 		FastMutex::ScopedLock lock(_mutex);
 		
@@ -131,7 +136,7 @@ public:
 			_running = true;
 			try
 			{
-				ThreadPool::defaultPool().start(*this);
+				pool.start(*this);
 			}
 			catch (...)
 			{