diff --git a/zmq.hpp b/zmq.hpp
index 4fcb928..84760e3 100644
--- a/zmq.hpp
+++ b/zmq.hpp
@@ -495,12 +495,12 @@ namespace zmq
             close();
         }
 
-        inline ZMQ_EXPLICIT operator void* () ZMQ_NOTHROW
+        inline operator void* () ZMQ_NOTHROW
         {
             return ptr;
         }
 
-        inline ZMQ_EXPLICIT operator void const* () const ZMQ_NOTHROW
+        inline operator void const* () const ZMQ_NOTHROW
         {
             return ptr;
         }