diff --git a/include/wx/string.h b/include/wx/string.h
index 09cca2799c..3efcab7b9f 100644
--- a/include/wx/string.h
+++ b/include/wx/string.h
@@ -721,14 +721,15 @@ public:
       reverse_iterator_impl operator--(int)
         { reverse_iterator_impl tmp = *this; ++m_cur; return tmp; }
 
+      // NB: explicit <T> in the functions below is to keep BCC 5.5 happy
       reverse_iterator_impl operator+(int n) const
-        { return reverse_iterator_impl(m_cur - n); }
+        { return reverse_iterator_impl<T>(m_cur - n); }
       reverse_iterator_impl operator+(size_t n) const
-        { return reverse_iterator_impl(m_cur - n); }
+        { return reverse_iterator_impl<T>(m_cur - n); }
       reverse_iterator_impl operator-(int n) const
-        { return reverse_iterator_impl(m_cur + n); }
+        { return reverse_iterator_impl<T>(m_cur + n); }
       reverse_iterator_impl operator-(size_t n) const
-        { return reverse_iterator_impl(m_cur + n); }
+        { return reverse_iterator_impl<T>(m_cur + n); }
       reverse_iterator_impl operator+=(int n)
         { m_cur -= n; return *this; }
       reverse_iterator_impl operator+=(size_t n)