diff --git a/wp-includes/comment-template.php b/wp-includes/comment-template.php
index dc7ad40015..907bc77279 100644
--- a/wp-includes/comment-template.php
+++ b/wp-includes/comment-template.php
@@ -1428,7 +1428,7 @@ function wp_list_comments($args = array(), $comments = null ) {
 		if ( empty($comments) )
 			return;
 		if ( 'all' != $r['type'] ) {
-			$comments_by_type = &separate_comments($comments);
+			$comments_by_type = separate_comments($comments);
 			if ( empty($comments_by_type[$r['type']]) )
 				return;
 			$_comments = $comments_by_type[$r['type']];
@@ -1440,7 +1440,7 @@ function wp_list_comments($args = array(), $comments = null ) {
 			return;
 		if ( 'all' != $r['type'] ) {
 			if ( empty($wp_query->comments_by_type) )
-				$wp_query->comments_by_type = &separate_comments($wp_query->comments);
+				$wp_query->comments_by_type = separate_comments($wp_query->comments);
 			if ( empty($wp_query->comments_by_type[$r['type']]) )
 				return;
 			$_comments = $wp_query->comments_by_type[$r['type']];