diff --git a/src/OpenMesh/Core/Mesh/CirculatorsT.hh b/src/OpenMesh/Core/Mesh/CirculatorsT.hh
index 4ae25858..6436ae61 100644
--- a/src/OpenMesh/Core/Mesh/CirculatorsT.hh
+++ b/src/OpenMesh/Core/Mesh/CirculatorsT.hh
@@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ class GenericCirculatorT_DEPRECATED : protected GenericCirculatorBaseT<typename
          * This function clutters your code. Use dereferencing operators -> and * instead.
          */
         OM_DEPRECATED("This function clutters your code. Use dereferencing operators -> and * instead.")
-        value_type handle() const {
+        smart_value_type handle() const {
           return **this;
         }