diff --git a/src/mesh/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/refinementSurfaces/refinementSurfaces.C b/src/mesh/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/refinementSurfaces/refinementSurfaces.C
index 082cc9804a..98b16e9f6b 100644
--- a/src/mesh/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/refinementSurfaces/refinementSurfaces.C
+++ b/src/mesh/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/refinementSurfaces/refinementSurfaces.C
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ Foam::refinementSurfaces::refinementSurfaces
     const labelList& maxLevel,
     const labelList& gapLevel,
     const scalarField& perpendicularAngle,
-    const PtrList<dictionary>& patchInfo
+    PtrList<dictionary>& patchInfo
 )
 :
     allGeometry_(allGeometry),
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ Foam::refinementSurfaces::refinementSurfaces
     {
         if (patchInfo.set(pI))
         {
-            patchInfo_[pI] = patchInfo[pI];
+            patchInfo_.set(pI, patchInfo.set(pI, NULL));
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/mesh/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/refinementSurfaces/refinementSurfaces.H b/src/mesh/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/refinementSurfaces/refinementSurfaces.H
index e107db01f4..e705e3a7d8 100644
--- a/src/mesh/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/refinementSurfaces/refinementSurfaces.H
+++ b/src/mesh/autoMesh/autoHexMesh/refinementSurfaces/refinementSurfaces.H
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ public:
             const labelList& maxLevel,
             const labelList& gapLevel,
             const scalarField& perpendicularAngle,
-            const PtrList<dictionary>& patchInfo
+            PtrList<dictionary>& patchInfo
         );