diff --git a/Periodic_3_triangulation_3/demo/Periodic_3_triangulation_3/Scene.cpp b/Periodic_3_triangulation_3/demo/Periodic_3_triangulation_3/Scene.cpp
index 4eb9ad28ee1..2ee47dd7ffc 100644
--- a/Periodic_3_triangulation_3/demo/Periodic_3_triangulation_3/Scene.cpp
+++ b/Periodic_3_triangulation_3/demo/Periodic_3_triangulation_3/Scene.cpp
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ void Scene::draw() {
 void Scene::load_points(const QString& fileName) {
   p3dt.clear();
   std::vector<Point> points;
-  std::ifstream ifs(fileName.toAscii() );
+  std::ifstream ifs(fileName.toAscii().data() );
   std::copy(std::istream_iterator<Point>(ifs), 
   std::istream_iterator<Point>(),
   std::back_inserter(points));
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 74a6517b491..d466e9c6f86 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
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ protected:
     return flag;
   }
 
-protected:
+public:
   bool is_virtual(Vertex_handle v) {
     if (is_1_cover()) return false;
     return (virtual_vertices.find(v) != virtual_vertices.end());