diff --git a/src/base/refcnt.hh b/src/base/refcnt.hh
index f2821231d9..197e418328 100644
--- a/src/base/refcnt.hh
+++ b/src/base/refcnt.hh
@@ -119,6 +119,9 @@ class RefCounted
 template <class T>
 class RefCountingPtr
 {
+  public:
+    using PtrType = T*;
+
   protected:
     /** Convenience aliases for const/non-const versions of T w/ friendship. */
     /** @{ */