diff --git a/python/core/qgslabelattributes.sip b/python/core/qgslabelattributes.sip
index e0c05327c25..d51c169d27a 100644
--- a/python/core/qgslabelattributes.sip
+++ b/python/core/qgslabelattributes.sip
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ public:
 
     void  setBufferColor ( const QColor &color );
     bool  bufferColorIsSet ( ) const;
-    const QColor & bufferColor ( ) const;
+    QColor bufferColor ( ) const;
 
     void  setBufferStyle ( Qt::BrushStyle style );
     bool  bufferStyleIsSet ( ) const;