diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 60c2031..2421772 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ set(META_APP_URL "https://github.com/${META_APP_AUTHOR}/${META_PROJECT_NAME}")
 set(META_APP_DESCRIPTION "Useful C++ classes and routines such as argument parser, IO and conversion utilities")
 set(META_FEATURES_FOR_COMPILER_DETECTION_HEADER cxx_thread_local)
 set(META_VERSION_MAJOR 5)
-set(META_VERSION_MINOR 5)
+set(META_VERSION_MINOR 6)
 set(META_VERSION_PATCH 0)
 
 # find required 3rd party libraries
diff --git a/conversion/stringconversion.h b/conversion/stringconversion.h
index fdbc1dc..f059a5f 100644
--- a/conversion/stringconversion.h
+++ b/conversion/stringconversion.h
@@ -71,13 +71,12 @@ CPP_UTILITIES_EXPORT void truncateString(std::string &str, char terminationChar
  * \tparam Container The STL-container used to provide the \a strings.
  * \returns Returns the joined string.
  */
-template <class Container = std::initializer_list<std::string>>
-typename Container::value_type joinStrings(const Container &strings,
-    const typename Container::value_type &delimiter = typename Container::value_type(), bool omitEmpty = false,
-    const typename Container::value_type &leftClosure = typename Container::value_type(),
+template <class Container = std::initializer_list<std::string>, class ReturnType = typename Container::value_type>
+ReturnType joinStrings(const Container &strings, const typename Container::value_type &delimiter = typename Container::value_type(),
+    bool omitEmpty = false, const typename Container::value_type &leftClosure = typename Container::value_type(),
     const typename Container::value_type &rightClosure = typename Container::value_type())
 {
-    typename Container::value_type res;
+    ReturnType res;
     if (!strings.size()) {
         return res;
     }