diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellref.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellref.cpp
index 744e0e27a..d2cced3b8 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellref.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellref.cpp
@@ -5,19 +5,19 @@
 namespace MWWorld
 {
 
-    ESM::RefNum CellRef::getRefNum() const
+    const ESM::RefNum& CellRef::getRefNum() const
     {
         return mCellRef.mRefNum;
     }
 
     bool CellRef::hasContentFile() const
     {
-        return getRefNum().hasContentFile();
+        return mCellRef.mRefNum.hasContentFile();
     }
 
     void CellRef::unsetRefNum()
     {
-        getRefNum().unset();
+        mCellRef.mRefNum.unset();
     }
 
     std::string CellRef::getRefId() const
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellref.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellref.hpp
index 054fd7fc6..f063b2727 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellref.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellref.hpp
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
         }
 
         // Note: Currently unused for items in containers
-        ESM::RefNum getRefNum() const;
+        const ESM::RefNum& getRefNum() const;
 
         // Set RefNum to its default state.
         void unsetRefNum();