diff --git a/modules/juce_core/memory/juce_ReferenceCountedObject.h b/modules/juce_core/memory/juce_ReferenceCountedObject.h
index 0fc3c940a3..8d8e726766 100644
--- a/modules/juce_core/memory/juce_ReferenceCountedObject.h
+++ b/modules/juce_core/memory/juce_ReferenceCountedObject.h
@@ -362,6 +362,15 @@ public:
     /** Checks whether this pointer is null */
     bool operator!= (decltype (nullptr)) const noexcept     { return referencedObject != nullptr; }
 
+    /** Compares two ReferenceCountedObjectPtrs. */
+    bool operator== (const ObjectType* other) const noexcept                 { return referencedObject == other; }
+    /** Compares two ReferenceCountedObjectPtrs. */
+    bool operator== (const ReferenceCountedObjectPtr& other) const noexcept  { return referencedObject == other.get(); }
+    /** Compares two ReferenceCountedObjectPtrs. */
+    bool operator!= (const ObjectType* other) const noexcept                 { return referencedObject != other; }
+    /** Compares two ReferenceCountedObjectPtrs. */
+    bool operator!= (const ReferenceCountedObjectPtr& other) const noexcept  { return referencedObject != other.get(); }
+
    #if JUCE_STRICT_REFCOUNTEDPOINTER
     /** Checks whether this pointer is null */
     operator bool() const noexcept                          { return referencedObject != nullptr; }
@@ -399,20 +408,6 @@ private:
 
 
 //==============================================================================
-/** Compares two ReferenceCountedObjectPtrs. */
-template <typename Type>
-bool operator== (const ReferenceCountedObjectPtr<Type>& object1, const Type* object2) noexcept
-{
-    return object1.get() == object2;
-}
-
-/** Compares two ReferenceCountedObjectPtrs. */
-template <typename Type>
-bool operator== (const ReferenceCountedObjectPtr<Type>& object1, const ReferenceCountedObjectPtr<Type>& object2) noexcept
-{
-    return object1.get() == object2.get();
-}
-
 /** Compares two ReferenceCountedObjectPtrs. */
 template <typename Type>
 bool operator== (const Type* object1, const ReferenceCountedObjectPtr<Type>& object2) noexcept
@@ -420,20 +415,6 @@ bool operator== (const Type* object1, const ReferenceCountedObjectPtr<Type>& obj
     return object1 == object2.get();
 }
 
-/** Compares two ReferenceCountedObjectPtrs. */
-template <typename Type>
-bool operator!= (const ReferenceCountedObjectPtr<Type>& object1, const Type* object2) noexcept
-{
-    return object1.get() != object2;
-}
-
-/** Compares two ReferenceCountedObjectPtrs. */
-template <typename Type>
-bool operator!= (const ReferenceCountedObjectPtr<Type>& object1, const ReferenceCountedObjectPtr<Type>& object2) noexcept
-{
-    return object1.get() != object2.get();
-}
-
 /** Compares two ReferenceCountedObjectPtrs. */
 template <typename Type>
 bool operator!= (const Type* object1, const ReferenceCountedObjectPtr<Type>& object2) noexcept