diff --git a/include/boost/intrusive_ptr.hpp b/include/boost/intrusive_ptr.hpp
index 4ada734..26c57b1 100644
--- a/include/boost/intrusive_ptr.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/intrusive_ptr.hpp
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ private:
 
 public:
 
+    typedef T element_type;
+
     intrusive_ptr(): p_(0)
     {
     }