diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/HashTables/HashTable/HashTable.H b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/HashTables/HashTable/HashTable.H
index e138e3ff50..b2ed087832 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/containers/HashTables/HashTable/HashTable.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/containers/HashTables/HashTable/HashTable.H
@@ -766,7 +766,7 @@ public:
         // Member Functions/Operators
 
             //- Const access to referenced object (value)
-            inline const reference val() const
+            inline reference val() const
             {
                 return Iterator<true>::entry_->cval();
             }