diff --git a/include/gsl/gsl b/include/gsl/gsl
index 65ce7eb..bc46aac 100644
--- a/include/gsl/gsl
+++ b/include/gsl/gsl
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 
 #include <iostream>
 #include <memory>
+#include <type_traits>
 
 #if defined(_MSC_VER) && _MSC_VER < 1910
 #pragma push_macro("constexpr")
@@ -53,7 +54,16 @@ namespace gsl
 using std::unique_ptr;
 using std::shared_ptr;
 
-template <class T>
+//
+// owner
+//
+//
+// owner<T> is designed as a bridge for code that must deal directly with owning pointers for some reason
+//
+// T must be a pointer type
+// - disallow construction from any type other than pointer type
+//
+template <class T, class = std::enable_if_t<std::is_pointer<T>::value>>
 using owner = T;
 
 //
diff --git a/tests/owner_tests.cpp b/tests/owner_tests.cpp
index b719b13..459c646 100644
--- a/tests/owner_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/owner_tests.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@
 
 #include <functional>
 
+#include <memory>
+
 using namespace gsl;
 
 SUITE(owner_tests)
@@ -34,6 +36,16 @@ SUITE(owner_tests)
         CHECK(*p == 121);
         delete p;
     }
+
+    TEST(check_pointer_constraint)
+    {
+        #ifdef CONFIRM_COMPILATION_ERRORS
+        {
+            owner<int> integerTest = 10;
+            owner<std::shared_ptr<int>> sharedPtrTest(new int(10));
+        }
+        #endif
+    }
 }
 
 int main(int, const char* []) { return UnitTest::RunAllTests(); }