diff --git a/include/rcp.h b/include/rcp.h
index 9876e24..2280b8e 100644
--- a/include/rcp.h
+++ b/include/rcp.h
@@ -90,6 +90,11 @@ public:
         return ptr;
     }
 
+    T & operator*() const
+    {
+        return *ptr;
+    }
+
     bool operator!() const
     {
         return !ptr;
diff --git a/test/tests.cpp b/test/tests.cpp
index 0da1698..7e9186a 100644
--- a/test/tests.cpp
+++ b/test/tests.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ class MyBase
 protected:
     MyBase(int x, int y)
     {
+        this->x = x;
+        this->y = y;
         mybase_construct++;
     }
 
@@ -20,6 +22,10 @@ protected:
     {
         mybase_destruct++;
     }
+
+public:
+    int x;
+    int y;
 };
 
 class MyDerived : public MyBase
@@ -29,6 +35,7 @@ class MyDerived : public MyBase
 protected:
     MyDerived(double v) : MyBase(1, 2)
     {
+        this->v = v;
         myderived_construct++;
     }
 
@@ -36,20 +43,35 @@ protected:
     {
         myderived_destruct++;
     }
+
+public:
+    double v;
 };
 
-void t1()
+void test_destructors_called()
 {
-    rcp<MyBase> mybase = MyBase::create(4, 5);
-    rcp<MyDerived> myderived = MyDerived::create(42.5);
-}
-
-int main(int argc, char * argv[])
-{
-    t1();
+    {
+        rcp<MyBase> mybase = MyBase::create(4, 5);
+        rcp<MyDerived> myderived = MyDerived::create(42.5);
+    }
     assert(mybase_construct == 2);
     assert(mybase_destruct == 2);
     assert(myderived_construct == 1);
     assert(myderived_destruct == 1);
+}
+
+void test_dereference()
+{
+    rcp<MyBase> mybase = MyBase::create(2, 3);
+    assert(mybase->x == 2);
+    assert(mybase->y == 3);
+    assert((*mybase).x == 2);
+    assert((*mybase).y == 3);
+}
+
+int main(int argc, char * argv[])
+{
+    test_destructors_called();
+    test_dereference();
     return 0;
 }