diff --git a/python/core/qgsvectorlayer.sip b/python/core/qgsvectorlayer.sip
index 29b93064aa6..c572b5d2bca 100644
--- a/python/core/qgsvectorlayer.sip
+++ b/python/core/qgsvectorlayer.sip
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ class QgsVectorLayer : QgsMapLayer
     /** Removes a vector layer join */
     void removeJoin( const QString& joinLayerId );
 
-    const QList< QgsVectorJoinInfo >& vectorJoins() const;
+    const QList< QgsVectorJoinInfo > vectorJoins() const;
 
     /**
      * Add a new field which is calculated by the expression specified
diff --git a/src/core/qgsvectorlayer.cpp b/src/core/qgsvectorlayer.cpp
index d5c02a6b558..282ce14e620 100644
--- a/src/core/qgsvectorlayer.cpp
+++ b/src/core/qgsvectorlayer.cpp
@@ -2872,7 +2872,7 @@ void QgsVectorLayer::removeJoin( const QString& joinLayerId )
     mJoinBuffer->removeJoin( joinLayerId );
 }
 
-const QList< QgsVectorJoinInfo >& QgsVectorLayer::vectorJoins() const
+const QList< QgsVectorJoinInfo > QgsVectorLayer::vectorJoins() const
 {
   if ( mJoinBuffer )
     return mJoinBuffer->vectorJoins();
diff --git a/src/core/qgsvectorlayer.h b/src/core/qgsvectorlayer.h
index ac92fbe41f9..0c08cf9bb59 100644
--- a/src/core/qgsvectorlayer.h
+++ b/src/core/qgsvectorlayer.h
@@ -793,7 +793,7 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsVectorLayer : public QgsMapLayer
     /** Removes a vector layer join */
     void removeJoin( const QString& joinLayerId );
 
-    const QList< QgsVectorJoinInfo >& vectorJoins() const;
+    const QList<QgsVectorJoinInfo> vectorJoins() const;
 
     /**
      * Add a new field which is calculated by the expression specified