diff --git a/python/core/qgspointlocator.sip.in b/python/core/qgspointlocator.sip.in
index c6d243eddd7..2ccc3b7e318 100644
--- a/python/core/qgspointlocator.sip.in
+++ b/python/core/qgspointlocator.sip.in
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ Configure extent - if not null, it will index only that area
 .. versionadded:: 2.14
 %End
 
-    void setRenderContext( const QgsRenderContext &context );
+    void setRenderContext( const QgsRenderContext *context );
 %Docstring
 Configure render context  - if not null, it will use to index only visible feature
 
diff --git a/src/core/qgspointlocator.cpp b/src/core/qgspointlocator.cpp
index 8cfcc675647..89517862594 100644
--- a/src/core/qgspointlocator.cpp
+++ b/src/core/qgspointlocator.cpp
@@ -663,12 +663,19 @@ void QgsPointLocator::setExtent( const QgsRectangle *extent )
   destroyIndex();
 }
 
-void QgsPointLocator::setRenderContext( const QgsRenderContext &context )
+void QgsPointLocator::setRenderContext( const QgsRenderContext *context )
 {
-  mContext = std::unique_ptr<QgsRenderContext>( new QgsRenderContext( context ) );
+  disconnect( mLayer, &QgsVectorLayer::styleChanged, this, &QgsPointLocator::destroyIndex );
 
-  connect( mLayer, &QgsVectorLayer::styleChanged, this, &QgsPointLocator::destroyIndex );
   destroyIndex();
+  mContext.reset( nullptr );
+
+  if ( context )
+  {
+    mContext = std::unique_ptr<QgsRenderContext>( new QgsRenderContext( *context ) );
+    connect( mLayer, &QgsVectorLayer::styleChanged, this, &QgsPointLocator::destroyIndex );
+  }
+
 }
 
 bool QgsPointLocator::init( int maxFeaturesToIndex )
diff --git a/src/core/qgspointlocator.h b/src/core/qgspointlocator.h
index 09fc877638d..0c8f5a941de 100644
--- a/src/core/qgspointlocator.h
+++ b/src/core/qgspointlocator.h
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsPointLocator : public QObject
      * Configure render context  - if not null, it will use to index only visible feature
      * \since QGIS 3.2
      */
-    void setRenderContext( const QgsRenderContext &context );
+    void setRenderContext( const QgsRenderContext *context );
 
     /**
      * The type of a snap result or the filter type for a snap request.
diff --git a/src/core/qgssnappingutils.cpp b/src/core/qgssnappingutils.cpp
index 03bab01556a..b7c22fc16a1 100644
--- a/src/core/qgssnappingutils.cpp
+++ b/src/core/qgssnappingutils.cpp
@@ -363,7 +363,10 @@ void QgsSnappingUtils::prepareIndex( const QList<LayerAndAreaOfInterest> &layers
       QgsPointLocator *loc = locatorForLayer( vl );
 
       if ( !mEnableSnappingForInvisibleFeature )
-        loc->setRenderContext( QgsRenderContext::fromMapSettings( mMapSettings ) );
+      {
+        QgsRenderContext ctx = QgsRenderContext::fromMapSettings( mMapSettings );
+        loc->setRenderContext( &ctx );
+      }
 
       if ( mStrategy == IndexExtent )
       {