https://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=114764
--- Comment #3 from Giuseppe D'Angelo <dangelog at gmail dot com> --- I guess you're referring to https://lists.isocpp.org/core/2019/07/6785.php ? I'm really not sure why a friend function declaration is different from a free function, where multiple equivalent declarations are allowed? Btw, the "real" case was a definition of a friend (hidden friend). Could at least that be supported?