diff --git a/include/boost/polymorphic_cast.hpp b/include/boost/polymorphic_cast.hpp
index 70afa6b..802ac9a 100644
--- a/include/boost/polymorphic_cast.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/polymorphic_cast.hpp
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@
 # include <boost/config.hpp>
 # include <boost/assert.hpp>
 # include <boost/throw_exception.hpp>
+# include <boost/type_traits/is_reference.hpp> 
+# include <boost/type_traits/remove_reference.hpp>
+# include <boost/utility/enable_if.hpp>
 # include <typeinfo>
 
 #ifdef BOOST_HAS_PRAGMA_ONCE
@@ -79,7 +82,7 @@ namespace boost
 
 //  polymorphic_downcast  ----------------------------------------------------//
 
-    //  BOOST_ASSERT() checked polymorphic downcast.  Crosscasts prohibited.
+    //  BOOST_ASSERT() checked raw pointer polymorphic downcast.  Crosscasts prohibited.
 
     //  WARNING: Because this cast uses BOOST_ASSERT(), it violates
     //  the One Definition Rule if used in multiple translation units
@@ -95,6 +98,22 @@ namespace boost
         return static_cast<Target>(x);
     }
 
+    //  BOOST_ASSERT() checked reference polymorphic downcast.  Crosscasts prohibited.
+
+    //  WARNING: Because this cast uses BOOST_ASSERT(), it violates
+    //  the One Definition Rule if used in multiple translation units
+    //  where BOOST_DISABLE_ASSERTS, BOOST_ENABLE_ASSERT_HANDLER
+    //  NDEBUG are defined inconsistently.
+
+    //  Contributed by Julien Delacroix
+
+    template <class Target, class Source>
+    inline typename boost::enable_if_c<boost::is_reference<Target>::value, Target>::type polymorphic_downcast(Source &x)
+    {
+        BOOST_ASSERT(dynamic_cast<typename boost::remove_reference<Target>::type *>(&x) == &x);
+        return static_cast<Target>(x);
+    }
+
 } // namespace boost
 
 #endif  // BOOST_POLYMORPHIC_CAST_HPP
diff --git a/test/polymorphic_cast_test.cpp b/test/polymorphic_cast_test.cpp
index d0e527d..5bb0699 100644
--- a/test/polymorphic_cast_test.cpp
+++ b/test/polymorphic_cast_test.cpp
@@ -172,20 +172,23 @@ static void test_polymorphic_pointer_cast()
 
 static void test_polymorphic_downcast()
 {
-    Base * base = new Derived;
+    Base *base_pointer = new Derived;
 
-    Derived * derived = boost::polymorphic_downcast<Derived*>( base );
+    // test raw pointer cast
+    Derived *derived_pointer = boost::polymorphic_downcast<Derived *>(base_pointer);
 
-    BOOST_TEST( derived != 0 );
+    BOOST_TEST(derived_pointer != 0);
 
-    if( derived != 0 )
+    if (derived_pointer != 0)
     {
-        BOOST_TEST_EQ( derived->kind(), "Derived" );
+        BOOST_TEST_EQ(derived_pointer->kind(), "Derived");
     }
 
-    // polymorphic_downcast can't do crosscasts
+    // test reference cast
+    Derived& derived_ref = boost::polymorphic_downcast<Derived&>(*base_pointer);
+    BOOST_TEST_EQ(derived_ref.kind(), "Derived");
 
-    delete base;
+    delete base_pointer;
 }
 
 static void test_polymorphic_pointer_downcast_builtin()
@@ -278,17 +281,32 @@ static void test_polymorphic_pointer_cast_fail()
 
 static void test_polymorphic_downcast_fail()
 {
-    Base * base = new Base;
+    Base * base_pointer = new Base;
 
-    int old_count = assertion_failed_count;
-    expect_assertion = true;
+    {
+        // test raw pointer cast
 
-    BOOST_TEST_THROWS( boost::polymorphic_downcast<Derived*>( base ), expected_assertion ); // should assert
+        int old_count = assertion_failed_count;
+        expect_assertion = true;
 
-    BOOST_TEST_EQ( assertion_failed_count, old_count + 1 );
-    expect_assertion = false;
+        BOOST_TEST_THROWS(boost::polymorphic_downcast<Derived *>(base_pointer), expected_assertion); // should assert
 
-    delete base;
+        BOOST_TEST_EQ(assertion_failed_count, old_count + 1);
+        expect_assertion = false;
+    }
+    {
+        // test reference cast
+
+        int old_count = assertion_failed_count;
+        expect_assertion = true;
+
+        BOOST_TEST_THROWS(boost::polymorphic_downcast<Derived &>(*base_pointer), expected_assertion); // should assert
+
+        BOOST_TEST_EQ(assertion_failed_count, old_count + 1);
+        expect_assertion = false;
+    }
+
+    delete base_pointer;
 }
 
 static void test_polymorphic_pointer_downcast_builtin_fail()