diff --git a/include/rcp.h b/include/rcp.h
index bc79cf4..e3bab3b 100644
--- a/include/rcp.h
+++ b/include/rcp.h
@@ -100,9 +100,9 @@ class root
 private:
     mutable std::atomic<int> ref_count{0};
 
+protected:
     mutable rcp<root> root_rcp;
 
-protected:
     root()
     {
         root_rcp.init_ptr(this);
@@ -124,18 +124,12 @@ public:
             delete this;
         }
     }
-
-    rcp<root> & get_root_rcp()
-    {
-        return root_rcp;
-    }
 };
 
 #define rcp_managed(classname) \
     rcp<classname> get_rcp() \
     { \
-        root * r = (root *)this; \
-        return rcp<classname>(r->get_root_rcp()); \
+        return rcp<classname>(root_rcp); \
     } \
     template <typename... Args> \
     static rcp<classname> create(Args&&... args) \