diff --git a/panda/src/collide/collisionDSSolid.cxx b/panda/src/collide/collisionDSSolid.cxx
index e5d7bac828..95d80feafd 100755
--- a/panda/src/collide/collisionDSSolid.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/collide/collisionDSSolid.cxx
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ get_collision_origin() const {
 //               number of bounding volume tests made against a solid
 //               of this type in a given frame.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-PStatCollector CollisionDSSolid::
+PStatCollector &CollisionDSSolid::
 get_volume_pcollector() {
   return _volume_pcollector;
 }
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ get_volume_pcollector() {
 //               number of intersection tests made against a solid
 //               of this type in a given frame.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-PStatCollector CollisionDSSolid::
+PStatCollector &CollisionDSSolid::
 get_test_pcollector() {
   return _test_pcollector;
 }
diff --git a/panda/src/collide/collisionDSSolid.h b/panda/src/collide/collisionDSSolid.h
index 8ad3c432e1..ec23e0c2eb 100755
--- a/panda/src/collide/collisionDSSolid.h
+++ b/panda/src/collide/collisionDSSolid.h
@@ -56,8 +56,8 @@ public:
   virtual void xform(const LMatrix4f &mat);
   virtual LPoint3f get_collision_origin() const;
 
-  virtual PStatCollector get_volume_pcollector();
-  virtual PStatCollector get_test_pcollector();
+  virtual PStatCollector &get_volume_pcollector();
+  virtual PStatCollector &get_test_pcollector();
 
   virtual void output(ostream &out) const;
 
diff --git a/panda/src/collide/collisionGeom.cxx b/panda/src/collide/collisionGeom.cxx
index ad6c0d0b40..ef22d413d6 100644
--- a/panda/src/collide/collisionGeom.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/collide/collisionGeom.cxx
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ make_copy() {
 //               number of bounding volume tests made against a solid
 //               of this type in a given frame.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-PStatCollector CollisionGeom::
+PStatCollector &CollisionGeom::
 get_volume_pcollector() {
   return _volume_pcollector;
 }
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ get_volume_pcollector() {
 //               number of intersection tests made against a solid
 //               of this type in a given frame.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-PStatCollector CollisionGeom::
+PStatCollector &CollisionGeom::
 get_test_pcollector() {
   return _test_pcollector;
 }
diff --git a/panda/src/collide/collisionGeom.h b/panda/src/collide/collisionGeom.h
index 8096fe8f22..8fc24e01dd 100644
--- a/panda/src/collide/collisionGeom.h
+++ b/panda/src/collide/collisionGeom.h
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ private:
 public:
   virtual CollisionSolid *make_copy();
 
-  virtual PStatCollector get_volume_pcollector();
-  virtual PStatCollector get_test_pcollector();
+  virtual PStatCollector &get_volume_pcollector();
+  virtual PStatCollector &get_test_pcollector();
 
   virtual void output(ostream &out) const;
 
diff --git a/panda/src/collide/collisionInvSphere.cxx b/panda/src/collide/collisionInvSphere.cxx
index aa88e08b7e..de4960790f 100644
--- a/panda/src/collide/collisionInvSphere.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/collide/collisionInvSphere.cxx
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ test_intersection(const CollisionEntry &) const {
 //               number of bounding volume tests made against a solid
 //               of this type in a given frame.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-PStatCollector CollisionInvSphere::
+PStatCollector &CollisionInvSphere::
 get_volume_pcollector() {
   return _volume_pcollector;
 }
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ get_volume_pcollector() {
 //               number of intersection tests made against a solid
 //               of this type in a given frame.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-PStatCollector CollisionInvSphere::
+PStatCollector &CollisionInvSphere::
 get_test_pcollector() {
   return _test_pcollector;
 }
diff --git a/panda/src/collide/collisionInvSphere.h b/panda/src/collide/collisionInvSphere.h
index a76f88f28b..f2b4754926 100644
--- a/panda/src/collide/collisionInvSphere.h
+++ b/panda/src/collide/collisionInvSphere.h
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ public:
   virtual PT(CollisionEntry)
   test_intersection(const CollisionEntry &entry) const;
 
-  virtual PStatCollector get_volume_pcollector();
-  virtual PStatCollector get_test_pcollector();
+  virtual PStatCollector &get_volume_pcollector();
+  virtual PStatCollector &get_test_pcollector();
 
   virtual void output(ostream &out) const;
 
diff --git a/panda/src/collide/collisionPlane.cxx b/panda/src/collide/collisionPlane.cxx
index 31dbaf86a5..50387012ba 100644
--- a/panda/src/collide/collisionPlane.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/collide/collisionPlane.cxx
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ get_collision_origin() const {
 //               number of bounding volume tests made against a solid
 //               of this type in a given frame.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-PStatCollector CollisionPlane::
+PStatCollector &CollisionPlane::
 get_volume_pcollector() {
   return _volume_pcollector;
 }
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ get_volume_pcollector() {
 //               number of intersection tests made against a solid
 //               of this type in a given frame.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-PStatCollector CollisionPlane::
+PStatCollector &CollisionPlane::
 get_test_pcollector() {
   return _test_pcollector;
 }
diff --git a/panda/src/collide/collisionPlane.h b/panda/src/collide/collisionPlane.h
index 5538a186a9..30c8b5d61c 100644
--- a/panda/src/collide/collisionPlane.h
+++ b/panda/src/collide/collisionPlane.h
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ public:
   virtual void xform(const LMatrix4f &mat);
   virtual LPoint3f get_collision_origin() const;
 
-  virtual PStatCollector get_volume_pcollector();
-  virtual PStatCollector get_test_pcollector();
+  virtual PStatCollector &get_volume_pcollector();
+  virtual PStatCollector &get_test_pcollector();
 
   virtual void output(ostream &out) const;
 
diff --git a/panda/src/collide/collisionPolygon.cxx b/panda/src/collide/collisionPolygon.cxx
index 705c808d98..10001bfe8d 100644
--- a/panda/src/collide/collisionPolygon.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/collide/collisionPolygon.cxx
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ get_viz(const CullTraverser *trav, const CullTraverserData &data,
 //               number of bounding volume tests made against a solid
 //               of this type in a given frame.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-PStatCollector CollisionPolygon::
+PStatCollector &CollisionPolygon::
 get_volume_pcollector() {
   return _volume_pcollector;
 }
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ get_volume_pcollector() {
 //               number of intersection tests made against a solid
 //               of this type in a given frame.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-PStatCollector CollisionPolygon::
+PStatCollector &CollisionPolygon::
 get_test_pcollector() {
   return _test_pcollector;
 }
diff --git a/panda/src/collide/collisionPolygon.h b/panda/src/collide/collisionPolygon.h
index 2a8f85ebf0..4acd211014 100644
--- a/panda/src/collide/collisionPolygon.h
+++ b/panda/src/collide/collisionPolygon.h
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@ public:
                                 const CullTraverserData &data,
                                 bool bounds_only) const;
 
-  virtual PStatCollector get_volume_pcollector();
-  virtual PStatCollector get_test_pcollector();
+  virtual PStatCollector &get_volume_pcollector();
+  virtual PStatCollector &get_test_pcollector();
 
   virtual void output(ostream &out) const;
   virtual void write(ostream &out, int indent_level = 0) const;
diff --git a/panda/src/collide/collisionSolid.cxx b/panda/src/collide/collisionSolid.cxx
index fa34404d03..64181ebe91 100644
--- a/panda/src/collide/collisionSolid.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/collide/collisionSolid.cxx
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ get_viz(const CullTraverser *, const CullTraverserData &, bool bounds_only) cons
 //               number of bounding volume tests made against a solid
 //               of this type in a given frame.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-PStatCollector CollisionSolid::
+PStatCollector &CollisionSolid::
 get_volume_pcollector() {
   return _volume_pcollector;
 }
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ get_volume_pcollector() {
 //               number of intersection tests made against a solid
 //               of this type in a given frame.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-PStatCollector CollisionSolid::
+PStatCollector &CollisionSolid::
 get_test_pcollector() {
   return _test_pcollector;
 }
diff --git a/panda/src/collide/collisionSolid.h b/panda/src/collide/collisionSolid.h
index 00aba7c621..525d8420df 100644
--- a/panda/src/collide/collisionSolid.h
+++ b/panda/src/collide/collisionSolid.h
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ public:
                                 const CullTraverserData &data,
                                 bool bounds_only) const;
 
-  virtual PStatCollector get_volume_pcollector();
-  virtual PStatCollector get_test_pcollector();
+  virtual PStatCollector &get_volume_pcollector();
+  virtual PStatCollector &get_test_pcollector();
 
 PUBLISHED:
   virtual void output(ostream &out) const;
diff --git a/panda/src/collide/collisionSphere.cxx b/panda/src/collide/collisionSphere.cxx
index 6c6128dc39..21e238a038 100644
--- a/panda/src/collide/collisionSphere.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/collide/collisionSphere.cxx
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ get_collision_origin() const {
 //               number of bounding volume tests made against a solid
 //               of this type in a given frame.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-PStatCollector CollisionSphere::
+PStatCollector &CollisionSphere::
 get_volume_pcollector() {
   return _volume_pcollector;
 }
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ get_volume_pcollector() {
 //               number of intersection tests made against a solid
 //               of this type in a given frame.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-PStatCollector CollisionSphere::
+PStatCollector &CollisionSphere::
 get_test_pcollector() {
   return _test_pcollector;
 }
diff --git a/panda/src/collide/collisionSphere.h b/panda/src/collide/collisionSphere.h
index 7b9a025c4c..780803bd81 100644
--- a/panda/src/collide/collisionSphere.h
+++ b/panda/src/collide/collisionSphere.h
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ public:
   virtual void xform(const LMatrix4f &mat);
   virtual LPoint3f get_collision_origin() const;
 
-  virtual PStatCollector get_volume_pcollector();
-  virtual PStatCollector get_test_pcollector();
+  virtual PStatCollector &get_volume_pcollector();
+  virtual PStatCollector &get_test_pcollector();
 
   virtual void output(ostream &out) const;
 
diff --git a/panda/src/collide/collisionTube.cxx b/panda/src/collide/collisionTube.cxx
index c4bf0cb5ee..ee7a29de07 100644
--- a/panda/src/collide/collisionTube.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/collide/collisionTube.cxx
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ get_collision_origin() const {
 //               number of bounding volume tests made against a solid
 //               of this type in a given frame.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-PStatCollector CollisionTube::
+PStatCollector &CollisionTube::
 get_volume_pcollector() {
   return _volume_pcollector;
 }
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ get_volume_pcollector() {
 //               number of intersection tests made against a solid
 //               of this type in a given frame.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-PStatCollector CollisionTube::
+PStatCollector &CollisionTube::
 get_test_pcollector() {
   return _test_pcollector;
 }
diff --git a/panda/src/collide/collisionTube.h b/panda/src/collide/collisionTube.h
index 0c82b282d7..3cd6fd7f90 100644
--- a/panda/src/collide/collisionTube.h
+++ b/panda/src/collide/collisionTube.h
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ public:
   virtual void xform(const LMatrix4f &mat);
   virtual LPoint3f get_collision_origin() const;
 
-  virtual PStatCollector get_volume_pcollector();
-  virtual PStatCollector get_test_pcollector();
+  virtual PStatCollector &get_volume_pcollector();
+  virtual PStatCollector &get_test_pcollector();
 
   virtual void output(ostream &out) const;