diff --git a/include/boost/python/args.hpp b/include/boost/python/args.hpp
index 1d0576f0..aed14276 100644
--- a/include/boost/python/args.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/python/args.hpp
@@ -108,6 +108,10 @@ namespace detail
 # endif 
 }
 
+#if defined(__sgi) && defined(_COMPILER_VERSION) && _COMPILER_VERSION <= 730
+class old_edg_workaround_for_arg { friend class arg; };
+#endif
+
 struct arg : detail::keywords<1>
 {
     explicit arg(char const *name)