diff --git a/src/entt/entity/sparse_set.hpp b/src/entt/entity/sparse_set.hpp
index 2bb3c3940..42ada24d5 100644
--- a/src/entt/entity/sparse_set.hpp
+++ b/src/entt/entity/sparse_set.hpp
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ class basic_sparse_set {
         std::swap(lhs, rhs);
     }
 
-    underlying_type policy_to_head() {
+    underlying_type policy_to_head() const noexcept {
         return traits_type::entity_mask * (mode != deletion_policy::swap_only);
     }