diff --git a/include/osg/ref_ptr b/include/osg/ref_ptr
index 3c3f3820c..f35889caa 100644
--- a/include/osg/ref_ptr
+++ b/include/osg/ref_ptr
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@
 #ifndef OSG_REF_PTR
 #define OSG_REF_PTR 1
 
-#define AUTOMATIC_CAST_TO_POINTER
-
 namespace osg {
 
 /** Smart pointer for handling referenced counted objects.*/
@@ -55,13 +53,11 @@ class ref_ptr
             return *this;
         }
 
-#ifndef AUTOMATIC_CAST_TO_POINTER
         // comparison operators for ref_ptr.
         inline bool operator == (const ref_ptr& rp) const { return (_ptr==rp._ptr); }
         inline bool operator != (const ref_ptr& rp) const { return (_ptr!=rp._ptr); }
         inline bool operator < (const ref_ptr& rp) const { return (_ptr<rp._ptr); }
         inline bool operator > (const ref_ptr& rp) const { return (_ptr>rp._ptr); }
-#endif
 
         // comparion operator for const T*.
         inline bool operator == (const T* ptr) const { return (_ptr==ptr); }
@@ -86,12 +82,6 @@ class ref_ptr
 
         inline const T* get() const { return _ptr; }
 
-#ifdef AUTOMATIC_CAST_TO_POINTER
-        inline operator T* () { return _ptr; }
-
-        inline operator const T* () const { return _ptr; }
-#endif
-
         /** take control over the object pointed to by ref_ptr, unreference but do not delete even if ref count goes to 0,
           * return the pointer to the object.
           * Note, do not use this unless you are 100% sure your code handles the deletion of the object correctly, and