diff --git a/src/playsim/p_mobj.cpp b/src/playsim/p_mobj.cpp
index 9fe615d0d..603d5958a 100644
--- a/src/playsim/p_mobj.cpp
+++ b/src/playsim/p_mobj.cpp
@@ -643,7 +643,7 @@ void AActor::MoveBehaviors(AActor& from)
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		auto owner = b->PointerVar<AActor>(NAME_Owner);
+		auto& owner = b->PointerVar<AActor>(NAME_Owner);
 		owner = this;
 	}