diff --git a/Surface_mesh/include/CGAL/Surface_mesh/Surface_mesh.h b/Surface_mesh/include/CGAL/Surface_mesh/Surface_mesh.h
index dc30f94af43..ecd062b55ed 100644
--- a/Surface_mesh/include/CGAL/Surface_mesh/Surface_mesh.h
+++ b/Surface_mesh/include/CGAL/Surface_mesh/Surface_mesh.h
@@ -507,6 +507,7 @@ private: //------------------------------------------------------ iterator types
       : public boost::iterator_facade< Index_iterator<Index_>,
                                        Index_,
                                        std::random_access_iterator_tag
+                                       Index_,
                                        >
     {
         typedef boost::iterator_facade< Index_iterator<Index_>,
@@ -590,7 +591,7 @@ private: //------------------------------------------------------ iterator types
             return this->hnd_ == other.hnd_;
         }
 
-        Index_& dereference() const { return const_cast<Index_&>(hnd_); }
+        Index_ dereference() const { return const_cast<Index_&>(hnd_); }
 
         Index_ hnd_;
         const Surface_mesh* mesh_;