diff --git a/include/boost/python/object/pointer_holder.hpp b/include/boost/python/object/pointer_holder.hpp
index 60a2df7e..cc114925 100644
--- a/include/boost/python/object/pointer_holder.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/python/object/pointer_holder.hpp
@@ -73,8 +73,9 @@ struct pointer_holder : instance_holder
 template <class Pointer, class Value>
 struct pointer_holder_back_reference : instance_holder
 {
-    typedef typename python::pointee<Pointer>::type held_type;
  private:
+    typedef typename python::pointee<Pointer>::type held_type;
+ public:
     typedef Value value_type;
 
     // Not sure about this one -- can it work? The source object