diff --git a/src/services/geometry/rich/richgeo/IrtGeo.h b/src/services/geometry/rich/richgeo/IrtGeo.h
index a89b567b33..d0f038710d 100644
--- a/src/services/geometry/rich/richgeo/IrtGeo.h
+++ b/src/services/geometry/rich/richgeo/IrtGeo.h
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ namespace rich {
       IrtGeo(std::string detName_, dd4hep::Detector *det_, bool verbose_=false);
       // alternate constructor: use compact file for DD4hep geometry (backward compatibility)
       IrtGeo(std::string detName_, std::string compactFile_="", bool verbose_=false);
-      ~IrtGeo(); 
+      virtual ~IrtGeo();
 
       // access the full IRT geometry
       CherenkovDetectorCollection *GetIrtDetectorCollection() { return m_irtDetectorCollection; }