diff --git a/src/SMDS/SMDS_MeshElementIDFactory.cxx b/src/SMDS/SMDS_MeshElementIDFactory.cxx
index 7ecfba5b0..545f7de34 100644
--- a/src/SMDS/SMDS_MeshElementIDFactory.cxx
+++ b/src/SMDS/SMDS_MeshElementIDFactory.cxx
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ bool SMDS_MeshElementIDFactory::BindID(int ID, SMDS_MeshElement * elem)
 //function : MeshElement
 //purpose  : 
 //=======================================================================
-SMDS_MeshElement* SMDS_MeshElementIDFactory::MeshElement(int ID)
+SMDS_MeshElement* SMDS_MeshElementIDFactory::MeshElement(int ID) const
 {
   if (!myIDElements.IsBound(ID))
     return NULL;
diff --git a/src/SMDS/SMDS_MeshElementIDFactory.hxx b/src/SMDS/SMDS_MeshElementIDFactory.hxx
index a574def92..dc3e51917 100644
--- a/src/SMDS/SMDS_MeshElementIDFactory.hxx
+++ b/src/SMDS/SMDS_MeshElementIDFactory.hxx
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class SMDS_EXPORT SMDS_MeshElementIDFactory:public SMDS_MeshIDFactory
 public:
   SMDS_MeshElementIDFactory();
   bool BindID(int ID, SMDS_MeshElement * elem);
-  SMDS_MeshElement * MeshElement(int ID);
+  SMDS_MeshElement * MeshElement(int ID) const;
   virtual int GetFreeID();
   virtual void ReleaseID(int ID);
   int GetMaxID() const;