diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellref.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellref.cpp
index fb9fd592a..188a80ae1 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellref.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellref.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,11 @@ namespace MWWorld
         return mCellRef.mRefID;
     }
 
+    const std::string* CellRef::getRefIdPtr() const
+    {
+        return &mCellRef.mRefID;
+    }
+
     bool CellRef::getTeleport() const
     {
         return mCellRef.mTeleport;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellref.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellref.hpp
index 04e807ce5..f9f6dbdda 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellref.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellref.hpp
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ namespace MWWorld
         // Id of object being referenced
         std::string getRefId() const;
 
+        // Pointer to ID of the object being referenced
+        const std::string* getRefIdPtr() const;
+
         // For doors - true if this door teleports to somewhere else, false
         // if it should open through animation.
         bool getTeleport() const;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellstore.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellstore.cpp
index 3d9c24009..607551f7d 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellstore.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/cellstore.cpp
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ namespace
         {
             for (typename MWWorld::CellRefList<T>::List::iterator iter (collection.mList.begin());
                 iter!=collection.mList.end(); ++iter)
-                if (iter->mRef.getRefNum()==state.mRef.mRefNum && iter->mRef.getRefId() == state.mRef.mRefID)
+                if (iter->mRef.getRefNum()==state.mRef.mRefNum && *iter->mRef.getRefIdPtr() == state.mRef.mRefID)
                 {
                     // overwrite existing reference
                     iter->load (state);
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
         const std::string *mIdToFind;
         bool operator()(const PtrType& ptr)
         {
-            if (ptr.getCellRef().getRefId() == *mIdToFind)
+            if (*ptr.getCellRef().getRefIdPtr() == *mIdToFind)
             {
                 mFound = ptr;
                 return false;