diff --git a/code/Importer.cpp b/code/Importer.cpp
index 1ad2ea498..c6b9daf67 100644
--- a/code/Importer.cpp
+++ b/code/Importer.cpp
@@ -966,7 +966,7 @@ float Importer::GetPropertyFloat(const char* szName,
 
 // ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Get a configuration property
-const std::string& Importer::GetPropertyString(const char* szName, 
+const std::string Importer::GetPropertyString(const char* szName, 
 	const std::string& iErrorReturn /*= ""*/) const
 {
 	return GetGenericProperty<std::string>(pimpl->mStringProperties,szName,iErrorReturn);
@@ -974,7 +974,7 @@ const std::string& Importer::GetPropertyString(const char* szName,
 
 // ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Get a configuration property
-const aiMatrix4x4& Importer::GetPropertyMatrix(const char* szName, 
+const aiMatrix4x4 Importer::GetPropertyMatrix(const char* szName, 
 	const aiMatrix4x4& iErrorReturn /*= aiMatrix4x4()*/) const
 {
 	return GetGenericProperty<aiMatrix4x4>(pimpl->mMatrixProperties,szName,iErrorReturn);
diff --git a/include/assimp/Importer.hpp b/include/assimp/Importer.hpp
index 4260300a7..5e7797b99 100644
--- a/include/assimp/Importer.hpp
+++ b/include/assimp/Importer.hpp
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ public:
 	 *  The return value remains valid until the property is modified.
 	 * @see GetPropertyInteger()
 	 */
-	const std::string& GetPropertyString(const char* szName,
+	const std::string GetPropertyString(const char* szName,
 		const std::string& sErrorReturn = "") const;
 
 	// -------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ public:
 	 *  The return value remains valid until the property is modified.
 	 * @see GetPropertyInteger()
 	 */
-	const aiMatrix4x4& GetPropertyMatrix(const char* szName,
+	const aiMatrix4x4 GetPropertyMatrix(const char* szName,
 		const aiMatrix4x4& sErrorReturn = aiMatrix4x4()) const;
 
 	// -------------------------------------------------------------------