diff --git a/panda/src/putil/bitMask.I b/panda/src/putil/bitMask.I
index 125bf564d1..9c7de08321 100644
--- a/panda/src/putil/bitMask.I
+++ b/panda/src/putil/bitMask.I
@@ -821,18 +821,6 @@ operator >>= (int shift) {
   _word >>= shift;
 }
 
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-//     Function: BitMask::operator WType
-//       Access: Published
-//  Description: Used to cast this BitMask back into the
-//               underlying integer type.
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-template<class WType, int nbits>
-INLINE BitMask<WType, nbits>::
-operator WType () const {
-  return _word;
-}
-
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: BitMask::get_key
 //       Access: Published
diff --git a/panda/src/putil/bitMask.h b/panda/src/putil/bitMask.h
index 318ced9665..fdc3b58fc1 100644
--- a/panda/src/putil/bitMask.h
+++ b/panda/src/putil/bitMask.h
@@ -118,8 +118,6 @@ PUBLISHED:
   INLINE void operator <<= (int shift);
   INLINE void operator >>= (int shift);
 
-  INLINE operator WType () const;
-
   INLINE void flood_down_in_place();
   INLINE void flood_up_in_place();
   INLINE BitMask<WType, nbits> flood_bits_down() const;