diff --git a/src/hb-iter.hh b/src/hb-iter.hh
index 71a166740..2e767efd2 100644
--- a/src/hb-iter.hh
+++ b/src/hb-iter.hh
@@ -84,6 +84,10 @@ struct hb_iter_t
   iter_t operator ++ (int) { iter_t c (*thiz()); ++*thiz(); return c; }
   iter_t operator - (unsigned count) const { auto c = thiz()->iter (); c -= count; return c; }
   iter_t operator -- (int) { iter_t c (*thiz()); --*thiz(); return c; }
+  template <typename T>
+  iter_t& operator >> (T &v) { v = **thiz(); ++*thiz(); return *thiz(); }
+  template <typename T>
+  iter_t& operator << (const T v) { **thiz() = v; ++*thiz(); return *thiz(); }
 
   protected:
   hb_iter_t () {}
diff --git a/src/test-iter.cc b/src/test-iter.cc
index c36c5b975..2dbacae5b 100644
--- a/src/test-iter.cc
+++ b/src/test-iter.cc
@@ -149,5 +149,9 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
   | hb_filter (hb_bool, hb_identity)
   ;
 
+  t << 1;
+  long vl;
+  s >> vl;
+
   return 0;
 }