diff --git a/packages/react-core/src/components/Tabs/TabsContext.ts b/packages/react-core/src/components/Tabs/TabsContext.ts
index 55673df02b8..5e0726da692 100644
--- a/packages/react-core/src/components/Tabs/TabsContext.ts
+++ b/packages/react-core/src/components/Tabs/TabsContext.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ export interface TabsContextProps {
     eventKey: number | string,
     tabContentRef: React.RefObject<any>
   ) => void;
-  handleTabClose: (
+  handleTabClose?: (
     event: React.MouseEvent<HTMLElement, MouseEvent>,
     eventKey: number | string,
     tabContentRef?: React.RefObject<any>