diff --git a/eo/src/eoInit.h b/eo/src/eoInit.h
index 3d5f6835..2e3b48f5 100644
--- a/eo/src/eoInit.h
+++ b/eo/src/eoInit.h
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ typedef typename EOT::AtomType AtomType;
   }
 
   // accessor to the atom initializer (needed by operator constructs sometimes)
-  const eoInit<AtomType> & atomInit() {return init;}
+  eoInit<AtomType> & atomInit() {return init;}
 
 private :
   unsigned offset;