diff --git a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/forceModel/Fines/ErgunStatFines.C b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/forceModel/Fines/ErgunStatFines.C
index c36fafbb..17fffd4e 100644
--- a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/forceModel/Fines/ErgunStatFines.C
+++ b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/forceModel/Fines/ErgunStatFines.C
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ ErgunStatFines::~ErgunStatFines()
 
 
 // * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Member Functions  * * * * * * * * * * * * * //
-const scalar ErgunStatFines::dSauter(label cellI) const
+scalar ErgunStatFines::dSauter(label cellI) const
 {
     // Sauter mean diameter without influence of medium-scale fines
     scalar dS = dSauter_[cellI] / scaleDist_;
diff --git a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/forceModel/Fines/ErgunStatFines.H b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/forceModel/Fines/ErgunStatFines.H
index 108e0841..1b33e30e 100644
--- a/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/forceModel/Fines/ErgunStatFines.H
+++ b/src/lagrangian/cfdemParticle/subModels/forceModel/Fines/ErgunStatFines.H
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ private:
 
     mutable scalar switchingVoidfraction_; //voidfraction above which dilute formulation will be used
 
-    inline const scalar dSauter(label) const;
+    inline scalar dSauter(label) const;
 
 public: