diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/cpp/cpp_service.cc b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/cpp/cpp_service.cc
index a8f303dae..226c2aa03 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/compiler/cpp/cpp_service.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/compiler/cpp/cpp_service.cc
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ void ServiceGenerator::GenerateGetPrototype(RequestOrResponse which,
   printer->Print(vars_,
     "    default:\n"
     "      GOOGLE_LOG(FATAL) << \"Bad method index; this should never happen.\";\n"
-    "      return *reinterpret_cast< ::google::protobuf::Message*>(NULL);\n"
+    "      return *static_cast< ::google::protobuf::Message*>(NULL);\n"
     "  }\n"
     "}\n"
     "\n");