diff --git a/src/hb-ot-layout-open-private.h b/src/hb-ot-layout-open-private.h
index 0955c6fe1..91aacfcf5 100644
--- a/src/hb-ot-layout-open-private.h
+++ b/src/hb-ot-layout-open-private.h
@@ -293,6 +293,8 @@ ASSERT_SIZE (CheckSum, 4);
 
 struct FixedVersion
 {
+  inline operator uint32_t(void) const { return major << 16 + minor; }
+
   SHORT  major;
   USHORT minor;
 };