diff --git a/src/hb-dsalgs.hh b/src/hb-dsalgs.hh
index f2bff063d..fafac1f72 100644
--- a/src/hb-dsalgs.hh
+++ b/src/hb-dsalgs.hh
@@ -553,8 +553,10 @@ struct hb_array_t
 
   inline unsigned int get_size (void) const { return len * sizeof (Type); }
 
-  template <typename T> inline operator  T * (void) { return arrayZ; }
+  template <typename T> inline operator T * (void) { return arrayZ; }
   template <typename T> inline operator const T * (void) const { return arrayZ; }
+  inline operator char * (void) { return (char *) arrayZ; }
+  inline operator const char * (void) const { return (const char *) arrayZ; }
 
   inline Type * operator & (void) { return arrayZ; }
   inline const Type * operator & (void) const { return arrayZ; }
diff --git a/src/hb-open-type.hh b/src/hb-open-type.hh
index 0f6efdc69..e1dc8aab1 100644
--- a/src/hb-open-type.hh
+++ b/src/hb-open-type.hh
@@ -342,6 +342,8 @@ struct UnsizedArrayOf
 
   template <typename T> inline operator T * (void) { return arrayZ; }
   template <typename T> inline operator const T * (void) const { return arrayZ; }
+  inline operator char * (void) { return (char *) arrayZ; }
+  inline operator const char * (void) const { return (const char *) arrayZ; }
 
   inline unsigned int get_size (unsigned int len) const
   { return len * Type::static_size; }