diff --git a/afl_transforms/tools/zax/zax_base.cpp b/afl_transforms/tools/zax/zax_base.cpp
index 9f809aa33715a0c69606eaceb7c6090b5d160a70..a40b9af96021525f65939dc51907b5a8f346516f 100644
--- a/afl_transforms/tools/zax/zax_base.cpp
+++ b/afl_transforms/tools/zax/zax_base.cpp
@@ -623,7 +623,7 @@ Instruction_t* ZaxBase_t::getInstructionToInstrument(const BasicBlock_t *p_bb, c
 
 	// scan basic block looking for instruction with requested number of free regs
 	const auto allowed_regs = RegisterSet_t({rn_RAX, rn_RBX, rn_RCX, rn_RDX, rn_R8, rn_R9, rn_R10, rn_R11, rn_R12, rn_R13, rn_R14, rn_R15});
-	auto ap = m_stars_analysis_engine.getAnnotations();
+	auto &ap = m_stars_analysis_engine.getAnnotations();
 	auto best_i = first_instruction;
 	auto max_free_regs = 0U;
 	auto num_free_regs_best_i = 0U;