diff --git a/src/api/api_config_params.cpp b/src/api/api_config_params.cpp
index 193693874..02bcde2a9 100644
--- a/src/api/api_config_params.cpp
+++ b/src/api/api_config_params.cpp
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ extern "C" {
         LOG_Z3_get_global_param_descrs(c);
         Z3_param_descrs_ref * d = alloc(Z3_param_descrs_ref, *mk_c(c));
         mk_c(c)->save_object(d);
-        d->m_descrs = gparams::get_global_param_descrs();
+        d->m_descrs.copy(const_cast<param_descrs&>(gparams::get_global_param_descrs()));
         auto r = of_param_descrs(d);
         RETURN_Z3(r);
         Z3_CATCH_RETURN(nullptr);