diff --git a/src/object-db.h b/src/object-db.h
index 9ecd753..8591096 100644
--- a/src/object-db.h
+++ b/src/object-db.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include <ccnx-common.h>
 #include <ccnx-name.h>
 #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
+#include <boost/shared_ptr.hpp>
 
 class ObjectDb
 {
@@ -51,4 +52,6 @@
   sqlite3 *m_db;
 };
 
+typedef boost::shared_ptr<ObjectDb> ObjectDbPtr;
+
 #endif // OBJECT_DB_H