diff --git a/libraries/toolsGIS/eventFile/eventFile.C b/libraries/toolsGIS/eventFile/eventFile.C
index 242e683e..29f81fe0 100644
--- a/libraries/toolsGIS/eventFile/eventFile.C
+++ b/libraries/toolsGIS/eventFile/eventFile.C
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ Foam::scalar Foam::eventFile::currentEventStartTime() const
     else return dates_[iterator_];
 }
 
-const Foam::scalar& Foam::eventFile::currentEventEndTime() const
+Foam::scalar Foam::eventFile::currentEventEndTime() const
 {
     if (iterator_ < ndates_-1) return dates_[iterator_+1];
     else return GREAT;
diff --git a/libraries/toolsGIS/eventFile/eventFile.H b/libraries/toolsGIS/eventFile/eventFile.H
index d551d04f..15115f71 100644
--- a/libraries/toolsGIS/eventFile/eventFile.H
+++ b/libraries/toolsGIS/eventFile/eventFile.H
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ public:
     const scalar& currentValue(const label& id) const {return currentValues_[id];}
     const scalarList& currentValues() const {return currentValues_;}
     scalar currentEventStartTime() const;
-    const scalar& currentEventEndTime() const;
+    scalar currentEventEndTime() const;
     void storeOldValues() {
         oldOldValues_ = oldValues_;
         oldValues_ = currentValues_;