http://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=54388
Bug #: 54388 Summary: std::array.at() const results in undefined behaviour Classification: Unclassified Product: gcc Version: 4.7.0 Status: UNCONFIRMED Severity: major Priority: P3 Component: libstdc++ AssignedTo: unassig...@gcc.gnu.org ReportedBy: lukeallard...@yahoo.co.uk array line 166: #ifdef __EXCEPTIONS constexpr const_reference at(size_type __n) const { return __n < _Nm ? _M_instance[__n] : throw out_of_range(__N("array::at")); } #else const_reference at(size_type __n) const { return __n < _Nm ? _M_instance[__n] : __throw_out_of_range(__N("array::at")); } #endif Refer to http://stackoverflow.com/questions/12136394/issue-with-bounds-checking-a-member-stdarray-inside-a-const-function A conditional with a throw operand evaluates to a prvalue, which expires at the end of the return statement.