diff --git a/src/lagrangian/basic/particle/particleTemplates.C b/src/lagrangian/basic/particle/particleTemplates.C
index cb58c21653..80009d44c5 100644
--- a/src/lagrangian/basic/particle/particleTemplates.C
+++ b/src/lagrangian/basic/particle/particleTemplates.C
@@ -738,7 +738,7 @@ void Foam::particle::hitWallFaces
         {
             // Get the decomposition of this wall face
 
-            const List<tetIndices>& faceTetIs =
+            const List<tetIndices> faceTetIs =
                 polyMeshTetDecomposition::faceTetIndices(mesh_, fI, cellI_);
 
             const Foam::face& f = pFaces[fI];