diff --git a/src/qvi-hwpool.cc b/src/qvi-hwpool.cc
index e33ba93..a54ce2f 100644
--- a/src/qvi-hwpool.cc
+++ b/src/qvi-hwpool.cc
@@ -193,6 +193,12 @@ qvi_hwpool_dev_s::operator==(
     return m_uuid == x.m_uuid;
 }
 
+qv_hw_obj_type_t
+qvi_hwpool_dev_s::type(void)
+    const {
+    return m_type;
+}
+
 int
 qvi_hwpool_dev_s::id(
     qv_device_id_type_t format,
@@ -388,7 +394,7 @@ qvi_hwpool_s::add_device(
     const qvi_hwpool_dev_s &dev
 ) {
     auto shdev = std::make_shared<qvi_hwpool_dev_s>(dev);
-    m_devs.insert({dev.m_type, shdev});
+    m_devs.insert({dev.type(), shdev});
     return QV_SUCCESS;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/qvi-hwpool.h b/src/qvi-hwpool.h
index a231cbb..037c279 100644
--- a/src/qvi-hwpool.h
+++ b/src/qvi-hwpool.h
@@ -68,8 +68,6 @@ struct qvi_hwpool_cpu_s : qvi_hwpool_res_s {
  * because we only maintain information relevant for user-facing operations.
  */
 struct qvi_hwpool_dev_s : qvi_hwpool_res_s {
-    /** Hardware pools are our friends. */
-    friend qvi_hwpool_s;
 private:
     /** Device type. */
     qv_hw_obj_type_t m_type = QV_HW_OBJ_LAST;
@@ -99,6 +97,9 @@ struct qvi_hwpool_dev_s : qvi_hwpool_res_s {
     operator==(
         const qvi_hwpool_dev_s &x
     ) const;
+    /** Returns the device's type. */
+    qv_hw_obj_type_t
+    type(void) const ;
     /** Returns the device's ID string formatted as specified. */
     int
     id(