diff --git a/src/Base/SmartPtrPy.cpp b/src/Base/SmartPtrPy.cpp
index edd1c98ee4..1a6bdf8604 100644
--- a/src/Base/SmartPtrPy.cpp
+++ b/src/Base/SmartPtrPy.cpp
@@ -67,6 +67,12 @@ namespace Py {
         Py::_XINCREF( p );
     }
 
+    SmartPtr &SmartPtr::operator=( const SmartPtr &rhs )
+    {
+        set( rhs.ptr() );
+        return *this;
+    }
+
     SmartPtr &SmartPtr::operator=( const Object &rhs )
     {
         set( rhs.ptr() );
diff --git a/src/Base/SmartPtrPy.h b/src/Base/SmartPtrPy.h
index 28fa59cf99..1215cddff5 100644
--- a/src/Base/SmartPtrPy.h
+++ b/src/Base/SmartPtrPy.h
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
 #ifndef PY_SMARTPTRPY_H
 #define PY_SMARTPTRPY_H
 
+#include <FCGlobal.h>
+
 // forward declarations
 typedef struct _object PyObject;
 
@@ -57,7 +59,8 @@ public:
     SmartPtr(const SmartPtr &ob);
 
     // Assignment acquires new ownership of pointer
-    SmartPtr &operator=( const Object &SmartPtr );
+    SmartPtr &operator=( const SmartPtr &rhs );
+    SmartPtr &operator=( const Object &rhs );
 
     SmartPtr &operator=(PyObject *rhsp);