diff --git a/test/cast_test.cpp b/test/cast_test.cpp
index e754dbb..7bbef05 100644
--- a/test/cast_test.cpp
+++ b/test/cast_test.cpp
@@ -53,16 +53,13 @@ int main( int argc, char * argv[] )
     //  tests which should succeed
     Derived derived_instance;
     Base * base = &derived_instance;
-    Base2 *   base2 = 0;
-    Derived * derived = 0;
-    derived = polymorphic_downcast<Derived*>( base );  // downcast
+    Derived * derived = polymorphic_downcast<Derived*>( base );  // downcast
     assert( derived->kind() == 'D' );
 
-    derived = 0;
     derived = polymorphic_cast<Derived*>( base ); // downcast, throw on error
     assert( derived->kind() == 'D' );
 
-    base2 = polymorphic_cast<Base2*>( base ); // crosscast
+    Base2 *   base2 =  polymorphic_cast<Base2*>( base ); // crosscast
     assert( base2->kind2() == '2' );
 
      //  tests which should result in errors being detected
diff --git a/test/polymorphic_cast_test.cpp b/test/polymorphic_cast_test.cpp
index db44850..5204a93 100644
--- a/test/polymorphic_cast_test.cpp
+++ b/test/polymorphic_cast_test.cpp
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ static void test_polymorphic_pointer_cast()
 
         if( sp_base2 != 0 )
         {
-            BOOST_TEST_EQ( base2->kind2(), "Base2" );
+            BOOST_TEST_EQ( sp_base2->kind2(), "Base2" );
         }
     }
     catch( std::bad_cast const& )