diff --git a/include/osg/ref_ptr b/include/osg/ref_ptr
index aec0d39f9..95af988b5 100644
--- a/include/osg/ref_ptr
+++ b/include/osg/ref_ptr
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
 #ifndef OSG_REF_PTR
 #define OSG_REF_PTR 1
 
+#define AUTOMATIC_CAST_TO_POINTER
+
 namespace osg {
 
 /** Smart pointer for handling referenced counted objects.*/
@@ -104,6 +106,12 @@ 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