diff --git a/libs/util/include/psemek/util/hash_table.hpp b/libs/util/include/psemek/util/hash_table.hpp
index 5fef85b0..83fac31c 100644
--- a/libs/util/include/psemek/util/hash_table.hpp
+++ b/libs/util/include/psemek/util/hash_table.hpp
@@ -475,6 +475,14 @@ namespace psemek::util
 			return impl_.insert(std::move(value));
 		}
 
+		template <typename Key1>
+		Value & operator[] (Key1 const & key)
+		{
+			if (auto it = find(key); it != end())
+				return it->second;
+			return insert({Key(key), Value{}}).first->second;
+		}
+
 		template <typename Key1>
 		iterator find(Key1 const & key) const
 		{