Suppose I have the following type: struct container { boost::optional<uint16_t> optional() const { return value_; } private: boost::optional<uint16_t> value_; }; struct value_wrapper { value_wrapper(const container& c) : c_(c) {} operator uint16_t () { return 1; } operator boost::optional<uint16_t>() { return c_.optional(); } private: const container& c_; }; And that I have the following function: value_wrapper value(const container& c) { return value_wrapper(c); } The following used to work in MSVC 2010: container c; // leave c.value_ alone. boost::optional<uint16_t> some_value = value(c); assert(!some_value); Now with Boost 1.56, this breaks because the constructor for some_value from a temporary optional is now marked explicit. What is the work-around for the previous behavior to be regained? All the following changes cause the assertion to fail: boost::optional<uint16_t> some_value(value(c)); assert(!some_value); // some_value's constructor will use the uint16_t conversion operator, therefore some_value == 1 boost::optional<uint16_t> some_value = static_cast<boost::optional<uint16_t> >(value(c)); assert(!some_value); // same problem as above, the temporary created will favor the uint16_t conversion operator Help? PS. For better context, see https://github.com/cpp-netlib/cpp-netlib/blob/0.11-devel/boost/network/proto...