diff --git a/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/checkMesh/checkTools.C b/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/checkMesh/checkTools.C
index e230e03990..cf981adb58 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/checkMesh/checkTools.C
+++ b/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/checkMesh/checkTools.C
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
    \\    /   O peration     |
     \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2015-2017 OpenFOAM Foundation
-     \\/     M anipulation  | Copyright (C) 2015-2017 OpenCFD Ltd.
+     \\/     M anipulation  | Copyright (C) 2015-2018 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ void Foam::mergeAndWrite
     const polyMesh& mesh,
     const surfaceWriter& writer,
     const word& name,
-    const indirectPrimitivePatch setPatch,
+    const indirectPrimitivePatch& setPatch,
     const fileName& outputDir
 )
 {
diff --git a/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/checkMesh/checkTools.H b/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/checkMesh/checkTools.H
index 794fce5e42..adb98089b5 100644
--- a/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/checkMesh/checkTools.H
+++ b/applications/utilities/mesh/manipulation/checkMesh/checkTools.H
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ namespace Foam
         const polyMesh& mesh,
         const surfaceWriter& writer,
         const word& name,
-        const indirectPrimitivePatch setPatch,
+        const indirectPrimitivePatch& setPatch,
         const fileName& outputDir
     );