diff --git a/CRM/Core/BAO/PdfFormat.php b/CRM/Core/BAO/PdfFormat.php
index 33783d7306c4..40c7c84211e6 100644
--- a/CRM/Core/BAO/PdfFormat.php
+++ b/CRM/Core/BAO/PdfFormat.php
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ public static function &getById($id) {
    *
    * @return value
    */
-  public static function getValue($field, &$values, $default = NULL) {
+  public static function getValue($field, $values, $default = NULL) {
     if (array_key_exists($field, self::$optionValueFields)) {
       switch (self::$optionValueFields[$field]['type']) {
         case CRM_Utils_Type::T_INT: