diff --git a/src/hb-meta.hh b/src/hb-meta.hh
index f00924599..ef6d98912 100644
--- a/src/hb-meta.hh
+++ b/src/hb-meta.hh
@@ -158,10 +158,7 @@ struct hb_is_convertible
 #define hb_is_convertible(From,To) hb_is_convertible<From, To>::value
 
 template <typename Base, typename Derived>
-struct hb_is_base_of
-{
-  static constexpr bool value = hb_is_convertible (hb_decay<Derived> *, hb_decay<Base> *);
-};
+using hb_is_base_of = hb_is_convertible<hb_decay<Derived> *, hb_decay<Base> *>;
 #define hb_is_base_of(Base,Derived) hb_is_base_of<Base, Derived>::value
 
 template <typename From, typename To>