diff --git a/Mesh_3/include/CGAL/Mesh_3/Mesh_complex_3_in_triangulation_3_base.h b/Mesh_3/include/CGAL/Mesh_3/Mesh_complex_3_in_triangulation_3_base.h
index af999cd1bc9..36be2139bc8 100644
--- a/Mesh_3/include/CGAL/Mesh_3/Mesh_complex_3_in_triangulation_3_base.h
+++ b/Mesh_3/include/CGAL/Mesh_3/Mesh_complex_3_in_triangulation_3_base.h
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ public:
   }
 
   /// Outputs the mesh to maya
-  void output_to_maya(std::ofstream& os,
+  void output_to_maya(std::ostream& os,
                       bool surfaceOnly = true) const
   {
     // Call global function