Consider : template<typename U> struct Test { template<typename T> typename enable_if<is_same<T, int>, void>::type test() { cout << "int" << endl; } template<typename T> typename enable_if<is_same<T, char>, void>::type test() { cout << "char" << endl; } }; template<typename T> typename enable_if<is_same<T, int>, void>::type test() { cout << "int" << endl; } template<typename T> typename enable_if<is_same<T, char>, void>::type test() { cout << "char" << endl; } int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[]) { test<int>(); test<char>(); Test<int>::test<double>(); // error return 0; } MSVC9 will give a compilation error (see below) where marked. Am I missing something obvious ? Thanks, J-L 1>c:\users\jll\documents\visual studio 2008\projects\boost_1_40_0\libs\rdb\test\test.cpp(325) : error C2143: syntax error : missing ';' before '<' 1> c:\users\jll\documents\visual studio 2008\projects\boost_1_40_0\libs\rdb\test\test.cpp(333) : see reference to class template instantiation 'Test<U>' being compiled 1>c:\users\jll\documents\visual studio 2008\projects\boost_1_40_0\libs\rdb\test\test.cpp(325) : error C4430: missing type specifier - int assumed. Note: C++ does not support default-int etc etc etc