diff --git a/include/osg/observer_ptr b/include/osg/observer_ptr
index e95aa77c8..1fc89dd71 100644
--- a/include/osg/observer_ptr
+++ b/include/osg/observer_ptr
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ public:
      */
     observer_ptr(T* rp)
     {
-        _reference = getWeakReference(rp);
+        _reference = getWeakReference<T>(rp);
     }
     
     observer_ptr(const observer_ptr& wp) : _reference(wp._reference)