diff --git a/Periodic_3_triangulation_3/include/CGAL/Periodic_3_triangulation_3.h b/Periodic_3_triangulation_3/include/CGAL/Periodic_3_triangulation_3.h
index 8acdb35f190..a0e69862930 100644
--- a/Periodic_3_triangulation_3/include/CGAL/Periodic_3_triangulation_3.h
+++ b/Periodic_3_triangulation_3/include/CGAL/Periodic_3_triangulation_3.h
@@ -2052,11 +2052,11 @@ inline void
 Periodic_3_triangulation_3<GT,TDS>::
 make_canonical(Vertex_triple& t) const
 {
-  int i = (&*(t.first) < &*(t.second))? 0 : 1;
+  int i = (t.first < t.second) ? 0 : 1;
   if(i==0) {
-    i = (&*(t.first) < &*(t.third))? 0 : 2;
+    i = (t.first < t.third) ? 0 : 2;
   } else {
-    i = (&*(t.second) < &*(t.third))? 1 : 2;
+    i = (t.second < t.third) ? 1 : 2;
   }
   Vertex_handle tmp;
   switch(i) {