diff --git a/include/media/mediametadataretriever.h b/include/media/mediametadataretriever.h
index f655f35..8ed07ee 100644
--- a/include/media/mediametadataretriever.h
+++ b/include/media/mediametadataretriever.h
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
     const char* extractMetadata(int keyCode);
 
 private:
-    static const sp<IMediaPlayerService>& getService();
+    static const sp<IMediaPlayerService> getService();
 
     class DeathNotifier: public IBinder::DeathRecipient
     {
diff --git a/media/libmedia/mediametadataretriever.cpp b/media/libmedia/mediametadataretriever.cpp
index 9a76f58..08a9e6a 100644
--- a/media/libmedia/mediametadataretriever.cpp
+++ b/media/libmedia/mediametadataretriever.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
 sp<IMediaPlayerService> MediaMetadataRetriever::sService;
 sp<MediaMetadataRetriever::DeathNotifier> MediaMetadataRetriever::sDeathNotifier;
 
-const sp<IMediaPlayerService>& MediaMetadataRetriever::getService()
+const sp<IMediaPlayerService> MediaMetadataRetriever::getService()
 {
     Mutex::Autolock lock(sServiceLock);
     if (sService == 0) {
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
 MediaMetadataRetriever::MediaMetadataRetriever()
 {
     ALOGV("constructor");
-    const sp<IMediaPlayerService>& service(getService());
+    const sp<IMediaPlayerService> service(getService());
     if (service == 0) {
         ALOGE("failed to obtain MediaMetadataRetrieverService");
         return;