diff --git a/django/contrib/sessions/backends/base.py b/django/contrib/sessions/backends/base.py
index 3b24b8d3d70..113f658a48e 100644
--- a/django/contrib/sessions/backends/base.py
+++ b/django/contrib/sessions/backends/base.py
@@ -58,9 +58,9 @@ class SessionBase(object):
     def get(self, key, default=None):
         return self._session.get(key, default)
 
-    def pop(self, key, *args):
+    def pop(self, key, default=None):
         self.modified = self.modified or key in self._session
-        return self._session.pop(key, *args)
+        return self._session.pop(key, default)
 
     def setdefault(self, key, value):
         if key in self._session:
diff --git a/docs/topics/http/sessions.txt b/docs/topics/http/sessions.txt
index 40faf1870ad..a7d444a4e67 100644
--- a/docs/topics/http/sessions.txt
+++ b/docs/topics/http/sessions.txt
@@ -205,9 +205,9 @@ You can edit it multiple times.
 
       Example: ``fav_color = request.session.get('fav_color', 'red')``
 
-    .. method:: pop(key)
+    .. method:: pop(key, default=None)
 
-      Example: ``fav_color = request.session.pop('fav_color')``
+      Example: ``fav_color = request.session.pop('fav_color', 'blue')``
 
     .. method:: keys()