http://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=50835
--- Comment #1 from Daniel Krügler <daniel.kruegler at googlemail dot com> 2011-10-23 11:47:19 UTC --- Simplified test case: //--- template<typename> struct vector {}; template<typename T> struct rvalue_probe { explicit rvalue_probe(T &t) : value(t) {} operator T&() const { return value; } T& value; }; template <typename T> void should_be_lvalue(T&) { } template <typename> void f() { vector<int> v; should_be_lvalue(true ? rvalue_probe<vector<int> >(v) : v); // Error } //--- The problem exists in C++0x mode as well.