diff --git a/src/dynamicMesh/polyTopoChange/polyTopoChange/hexRef8.C b/src/dynamicMesh/polyTopoChange/polyTopoChange/hexRef8.C
index f338c6cf06..a47f8a06f1 100644
--- a/src/dynamicMesh/polyTopoChange/polyTopoChange/hexRef8.C
+++ b/src/dynamicMesh/polyTopoChange/polyTopoChange/hexRef8.C
@@ -55,9 +55,9 @@ namespace Foam
     class ifEqEqOp
     {
         public:
-        void operator()(label x, const label y) const
+        void operator()(label& x, const label y) const
         {
-            x = (x==y) ? x : value;
+            x = (x == y) ? x : value;
         }
     };
 }