diff --git a/include/boost/iterator/permutation_iterator.hpp b/include/boost/iterator/permutation_iterator.hpp
index 1cd0118..23d1198 100644
--- a/include/boost/iterator/permutation_iterator.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/iterator/permutation_iterator.hpp
@@ -50,6 +50,11 @@ private:
     typename super_t::reference dereference() const
         { return *(m_elt_iter + *this->base()); }
 
+#ifndef BOOST_NO_MEMBER_TEMPLATE_FRIENDS
+    template <class,class> friend class permutation_iterator;
+#else
+ public:
+#endif 
     ElementIterator m_elt_iter;
 };
 
diff --git a/test/permutation_iterator_test.cpp b/test/permutation_iterator_test.cpp
index af748a9..abd1046 100644
--- a/test/permutation_iterator_test.cpp
+++ b/test/permutation_iterator_test.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
 
 #include <boost/iterator/permutation_iterator.hpp>
 #include <boost/static_assert.hpp>
+#include <boost/iterator/iterator_concepts.hpp>
+#include <boost/concept/assert.hpp>
 
 #include <vector>
 #include <list>
@@ -40,6 +42,14 @@ void permutation_test()
   permutation_type it = begin;
   permutation_type end = boost::make_permutation_iterator( elements.begin(), indices.end() );
 
+  typedef boost::permutation_iterator< element_range_type::const_iterator, index_type::iterator > permutation_const_type;
+  
+  BOOST_CONCEPT_ASSERT((
+      boost_concepts::InteroperableIteratorConcept<
+           permutation_type
+         , permutation_const_type
+      >));
+  
   BOOST_CHECK( it == begin );
   BOOST_CHECK( it != end );