diff --git a/corsika/framework/core/Step.hpp b/corsika/framework/core/Step.hpp
index 4b6fd6b103b0bec3ef4de7d3cfd736a028c7a80d..2ad6fdbcf81511fedf128f91e57613e5c36f9533 100644
--- a/corsika/framework/core/Step.hpp
+++ b/corsika/framework/core/Step.hpp
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ namespace corsika {
                                                      // Where does it happen, here?
     }
 
-    Point const& getPositionPre() const { return getParticlePre().getPosition(); }
+    Point const getPositionPre() const { return getParticlePre().getPosition(); }
 
     Point getPositionPost() const {
       Point const& pos_Pre = getPositionPre();