diff --git a/src/hb-private.hh b/src/hb-private.hh
index 06d7f228a..45afc20b1 100644
--- a/src/hb-private.hh
+++ b/src/hb-private.hh
@@ -247,8 +247,8 @@ ASSERT_STATIC (sizeof (hb_var_int_t) == 4);
 
 /* Void! */
 struct _hb_void_t {};
-typedef const _hb_void_t &hb_void_t;
-#define HB_VOID (* (const _hb_void_t *) NULL)
+typedef const _hb_void_t *hb_void_t;
+#define HB_VOID ((const _hb_void_t *) NULL)
 
 /* Return the number of 1 bits in mask. */
 static inline HB_CONST_FUNC unsigned int