diff --git a/AABB_tree/include/CGAL/internal/AABB_tree/AABB_node.h b/AABB_tree/include/CGAL/internal/AABB_tree/AABB_node.h
index c4f1504a73e..d47056d1e77 100644
--- a/AABB_tree/include/CGAL/internal/AABB_tree/AABB_node.h
+++ b/AABB_tree/include/CGAL/internal/AABB_tree/AABB_node.h
@@ -87,6 +87,8 @@ private:
   typedef AABB_node<AABB_traits> Node;
   typedef typename AABB_traits::Primitive Primitive;
 
+
+public:
   /// Helper functions
   const Node& left_child() const
                      { return *static_cast<Node*>(m_p_left_child); }
@@ -97,8 +99,7 @@ private:
   const Primitive& right_data() const
                      { return *static_cast<Primitive*>(m_p_right_child); }
 
-public:
-
+private:
   Node& left_child() { return *static_cast<Node*>(m_p_left_child); }
   Node& right_child() { return *static_cast<Node*>(m_p_right_child); }
   Primitive& left_data() { return *static_cast<Primitive*>(m_p_left_child); }
diff --git a/AABB_tree/include/CGAL/internal/AABB_tree/AABB_ray_intersection.h b/AABB_tree/include/CGAL/internal/AABB_tree/AABB_ray_intersection.h
index 99db0a88686..cc85b23ec89 100644
--- a/AABB_tree/include/CGAL/internal/AABB_tree/AABB_ray_intersection.h
+++ b/AABB_tree/include/CGAL/internal/AABB_tree/AABB_ray_intersection.h
@@ -142,8 +142,8 @@ private:
 
   struct Node_ptr_with_ft {
     Node_ptr_with_ft(const Node* node, const FT& value, size_type nb_primitives)
-      : node(const_cast<Node*>(node)), value(value), nb_primitives(nb_primitives) {}
-    Node* node;
+      : node(node), value(value), nb_primitives(nb_primitives) {}
+    const Node* node;
     FT value;
     size_type nb_primitives;
     bool operator<(const Node_ptr_with_ft& other) const { return value < other.value; }