diff --git a/openvdb/include/openvdb/tree/RootNode.h b/openvdb/include/openvdb/tree/RootNode.h
index c9abc2e9..322eb265 100644
--- a/openvdb/include/openvdb/tree/RootNode.h
+++ b/openvdb/include/openvdb/tree/RootNode.h
@@ -1153,7 +1153,7 @@ struct RootNodeCopyHelper<RootT, OtherRootT, /*Compatible=*/true>
 
         struct Local {
             /// @todo Consider using a value conversion functor passed as an argument instead.
-            static inline ValueT convertValue(const OtherValueT& val) { return ValueT(val); }
+            static inline ValueT convertValue(const OtherValueT& val) { return typename RootT::ValueType(val); }
         };
 
         self.mBackground = Local::convertValue(other.mBackground);