diff --git a/Surface_mesh/include/CGAL/Surface_mesh/Surface_mesh.h b/Surface_mesh/include/CGAL/Surface_mesh/Surface_mesh.h
index ecd062b55ed..4567818aa8a 100644
--- a/Surface_mesh/include/CGAL/Surface_mesh/Surface_mesh.h
+++ b/Surface_mesh/include/CGAL/Surface_mesh/Surface_mesh.h
@@ -591,7 +591,7 @@ private: //------------------------------------------------------ iterator types
             return this->hnd_ == other.hnd_;
         }
 
-        Index_ dereference() const { return const_cast<Index_&>(hnd_); }
+        Index_ dereference() const { return hnd_; }
 
         Index_ hnd_;
         const Surface_mesh* mesh_;