diff --git a/src/proc/mobject/placement.hpp b/src/proc/mobject/placement.hpp
index f494d4815..282cc89c4 100644
--- a/src/proc/mobject/placement.hpp
+++ b/src/proc/mobject/placement.hpp
@@ -137,7 +137,18 @@ namespace mobject {
         { 
           ENSURE (*this); 
           return _SmartPtr::operator-> (); 
-        }      
+        }
+      
+      /** run time diagnostics: is the pointee
+       *  of this placement compatible to the given type?
+       */
+      template<class Y>
+      bool
+      isCompatible ()  const
+        {
+          return 0 != dynamic_cast<const Y*> (get());
+        }
+      
       
       operator string()   const ;
       size_t use_count()  const { return _SmartPtr::use_count(); }
diff --git a/tests/components/proc/mobject/placement-hierarchy-test.cpp b/tests/components/proc/mobject/placement-hierarchy-test.cpp
index d6fd03cab..6ca72b590 100644
--- a/tests/components/proc/mobject/placement-hierarchy-test.cpp
+++ b/tests/components/proc/mobject/placement-hierarchy-test.cpp
@@ -156,6 +156,14 @@ namespace test    {
 //          {
 //            ASSERT (lumiera_error () == error::LUMIERA_ERROR_ASSERTION);
 //          }
+          
+          // runtime type diagnostics based on pointee RTTI
+          ASSERT ( pSub2.isCompatible<MObject>());
+          ASSERT ( pSub2.isCompatible<DummyMO>());
+          ASSERT ( pSub2.isCompatible<TestSubMO2>());
+          ASSERT (!pSub2.isCompatible<TestSubMO21>());
+          ASSERT (!pSub2.isCompatible<TestSubMO1>());
+          ASSERT (!pSub2.isCompatible<Clip>());
         }
     };