diff --git a/panda/src/bullet/bulletContactResult.I b/panda/src/bullet/bulletContactResult.I
index 5509f35092..9299631374 100644
--- a/panda/src/bullet/bulletContactResult.I
+++ b/panda/src/bullet/bulletContactResult.I
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ get_num_contacts() const {
 /**
  *
  */
-INLINE BulletContact &BulletContactResult::
+INLINE BulletContact BulletContactResult::
 get_contact(int idx) {
 
   nassertr(idx >= 0 && idx < (int)_contacts.size(), _empty);
diff --git a/panda/src/bullet/bulletContactResult.h b/panda/src/bullet/bulletContactResult.h
index 77ada41468..3e0e216135 100644
--- a/panda/src/bullet/bulletContactResult.h
+++ b/panda/src/bullet/bulletContactResult.h
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ struct EXPCL_PANDABULLET BulletContactResult : public btCollisionWorld::ContactR
 
 PUBLISHED:
   INLINE int get_num_contacts() const;
-  INLINE BulletContact &get_contact(int idx);
+  INLINE BulletContact get_contact(int idx);
   MAKE_SEQ(get_contacts, get_num_contacts, get_contact);
 
 public: