diff --git a/include/xlnt/worksheet/range_iterator.hpp b/include/xlnt/worksheet/range_iterator.hpp
index 5e942f73..c6f43979 100644
--- a/include/xlnt/worksheet/range_iterator.hpp
+++ b/include/xlnt/worksheet/range_iterator.hpp
@@ -86,7 +86,12 @@ public:
     /// <summary>
     /// Dereference the iterator to return a column or row.
     /// </summary>
-    cell_vector operator*() const;
+    reference operator*();
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Dereference the iterator to return a column or row.
+    /// </summary>
+    const reference operator*() const;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Returns true if this iterator is equivalent to other.
@@ -196,7 +201,7 @@ public:
     /// <summary>
     /// Dereferennce the iterator to return the current column/row.
     /// </summary>
-    const cell_vector operator*() const;
+    const reference operator*() const;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Returns true if this iterator is equivalent to other.
diff --git a/source/worksheet/range_iterator.cpp b/source/worksheet/range_iterator.cpp
index 57208d26..2c7a3a10 100644
--- a/source/worksheet/range_iterator.cpp
+++ b/source/worksheet/range_iterator.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,12 @@
 
 namespace xlnt {
 
-cell_vector range_iterator::operator*() const
+range_iterator::reference range_iterator::operator*()
+{
+    return cell_vector(ws_, cursor_, bounds_, order_, skip_null_, false);
+}
+
+const range_iterator::reference range_iterator::operator*() const
 {
     return cell_vector(ws_, cursor_, bounds_, order_, skip_null_, false);
 }
@@ -264,7 +269,7 @@ const_range_iterator const_range_iterator::operator++(int)
     return old;
 }
 
-const cell_vector const_range_iterator::operator*() const
+const const_range_iterator::reference const_range_iterator::operator*() const
 {
     return cell_vector(ws_, cursor_, bounds_, order_, skip_null_, false);
 }