diff --git a/include/boost/intrusive/pointer_traits.hpp b/include/boost/intrusive/pointer_traits.hpp
index d16471c..4face3e 100644
--- a/include/boost/intrusive/pointer_traits.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/intrusive/pointer_traits.hpp
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ struct pointer_traits
 
       //!Ptr::reference if such a type exists (non-standard extension); otherwise, element_type &
       //!
-      typedef element_type &reference;
+      typedef unspecified_type reference;
    #else
       typedef Ptr                                                             pointer;
       //