diff --git a/src/libutil/ref.hh b/src/libutil/ref.hh
index 016fdd74a..3d0e64ab4 100644
--- a/src/libutil/ref.hh
+++ b/src/libutil/ref.hh
@@ -23,14 +23,14 @@ public:
         : p(r.p)
     { }
 
-    explicit ref<T>(const std::shared_ptr<T> & p)
+    explicit ref(const std::shared_ptr<T> & p)
         : p(p)
     {
         if (!p)
             throw std::invalid_argument("null pointer cast to ref");
     }
 
-    explicit ref<T>(T * p)
+    explicit ref(T * p)
         : p(p)
     {
         if (!p)