diff --git a/src/lib/scoped-ptrvect.hpp b/src/lib/scoped-ptrvect.hpp
index 932bcffb6..d01992edc 100644
--- a/src/lib/scoped-ptrvect.hpp
+++ b/src/lib/scoped-ptrvect.hpp
@@ -25,13 +25,14 @@
  ** build and own a number of objects, including lifecycle management. 
  ** For example, a service provider may need to maintain a number of individual
  ** process handles. The solution here is deliberately kept simple, it is
- ** similar to using a stl container with shared_ptr(s), but behaves rather
+ ** similar to using a STL container with shared_ptr(s), but behaves rather
  ** like boost::scoped_ptr. It provides the same basic functionality as
  ** boost::ptr_vector, but doesn't require us to depend on boost-serialisation.
  ** 
  ** Some details to note:
  ** - contained objects accessed by reference, never NULL.
- ** - TODO: iterators, detaching of objects...
+ ** - the exposed iterator automatically dereferences
+ ** - TODO: detaching of objects...
  ** - TODO: retro-fit with refarray interface (--> builder branch)
  ** 
  ** @see scoped-ptrvect-test.cpp
@@ -70,6 +71,12 @@ namespace lib {
       boost::noncopyable
     {
       typedef std::vector<T*> _Vec;
+      typedef typename _Vec::iterator VIter;
+      typedef typename _Vec::const_iterator VcIter;
+      
+      typedef RangeIter<VIter> RIter;
+      typedef RangeIter<VcIter> RcIter;
+      
       
     public:
       typedef size_t   size_type;
@@ -118,7 +125,6 @@ namespace lib {
       void
       clear()
         { 
-          typedef typename _Vec::iterator VIter;
           VIter e = _Vec::end();
           for (VIter i = _Vec::begin(); i!=e; ++i)
             {
@@ -144,11 +150,11 @@ namespace lib {
           return *get(i);
         }
       
-      typedef PtrDerefIter<typename _Vec::iterator> iterator;
-      typedef PtrDerefIter<typename _Vec::const_iterator> const_iterator;
+      typedef PtrDerefIter<RIter> iterator;
+      typedef PtrDerefIter<RcIter> const_iterator;
       
-      iterator       begin()        { return       iterator (_Vec::begin()); }
-      const_iterator begin()  const { return const_iterator (_Vec::begin()); }
+      iterator       begin()        { return       iterator (allPtrs()); }
+      const_iterator begin()  const { return const_iterator (allPtrs()); }
       iterator       end()          { return       iterator (); }
       const_iterator end()    const { return const_iterator (); }
       
@@ -164,8 +170,9 @@ namespace lib {
       
       
     private:
-      /** internal element access, including null check */
-      T* get(size_type i)
+      /** @internal element access, including null check */
+      T*
+      get (size_type i)
         {
           T* p (_Vec::at (i));
           if (!p)
@@ -173,6 +180,13 @@ namespace lib {
           else
             return p;
         }
+      
+      /** @internal access sequence of all managed pointers */
+      RIter
+      allPtrs ()
+        {
+          return RIter (_Vec::begin(), _Vec::end());
+        }
     };
   
   
diff --git a/tests/lib/scoped-ptrvect-test.cpp b/tests/lib/scoped-ptrvect-test.cpp
index 3bf539342..d718ddc31 100644
--- a/tests/lib/scoped-ptrvect-test.cpp
+++ b/tests/lib/scoped-ptrvect-test.cpp
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ namespace test{
   
   /********************************************************************
    *  @test ScopedPtrVect manages the lifecycle of a number of objects.
+   *  @todo cover the const iterator and implement detaching of objects
    */
   class ScopedPtrVect_test : public Test
     {
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@ namespace test{
       run (Arg)
         {
           simpleUsage();
-//        iterating();
+          iterating();
 //        detaching();
         }
       
@@ -92,6 +93,28 @@ namespace test{
           ASSERT (0==checksum);
         }
       
+      
+      void
+      iterating()
+        {
+          ASSERT (0==checksum);
+          {
+            VectD holder;
+            for (int i=0; i<16; ++i)
+              holder.manage(new Dummy(i));
+            
+            int check=0;
+            VectD::iterator ii = holder.begin();
+            while (ii)
+              {
+                ASSERT (check == ii->getVal());
+                ++check;
+                ++ii;
+              }
+          }
+          ASSERT (0==checksum);
+        }
+      
     };
   
   LAUNCHER (ScopedPtrVect_test, "unit common");
diff --git a/tests/lib/testdummy.hpp b/tests/lib/testdummy.hpp
index 99a5ee3c1..afa810f79 100644
--- a/tests/lib/testdummy.hpp
+++ b/tests/lib/testdummy.hpp
@@ -41,20 +41,19 @@ namespace test{
       public:
         Dummy ()
           : val_(1 + (rand() % 100000000))
-          {
-            checksum += val_;
-            if (throw_in_ctor)
-              throw val_;
-          }
+          { init(); }
+        
+        Dummy (int v)
+          : val_(v)
+          { init(); }
         
         ~Dummy()
           {
             checksum -= val_;
           }
         
-        long add (int i)  { return val_+i; }
+        long add (int i)    { return val_+i; }
         
-      protected:
         int getVal()  const { return val_; }
         
         void
@@ -63,6 +62,16 @@ namespace test{
             checksum += newVal - val_;
             val_ = newVal;
           }
+        
+      private:
+        void
+        init()
+          {
+            checksum += val_;
+            if (throw_in_ctor)
+              throw val_;
+          }
+
       };
       
   }  // anonymous test dummy