diff --git a/src/SMESH/SMESH_subMesh.cxx b/src/SMESH/SMESH_subMesh.cxx
index 04b4993d8..a21cd29b1 100644
--- a/src/SMESH/SMESH_subMesh.cxx
+++ b/src/SMESH/SMESH_subMesh.cxx
@@ -1651,7 +1651,7 @@ bool SMESH_subMesh::ComputeStateEngine(compute_event event)
         for (subS.ReInit(); subS.More(); subS.Next())
         {
           _father->Lock();
-          const std::list <const SMESHDS_Hypothesis *> hyps =
+          const std::list <const SMESHDS_Hypothesis *> & hyps =
             _algo->GetUsedHypothesis( *_father, _subShape );
           _father->Unlock();
           SMESH_Comment hypStr;