diff --git a/src/libutil/ref.hh b/src/libutil/ref.hh
index d6bf53bb8..347b81f73 100644
--- a/src/libutil/ref.hh
+++ b/src/libutil/ref.hh
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ private:
 
 public:
 
-    ref<T>(const ref<T> & r)
+    ref(const ref<T> & r)
         : p(r.p)
     { }