diff --git a/src/util/lp/lar_solver.h b/src/util/lp/lar_solver.h
index 72705dfb3..3735fbb9f 100644
--- a/src/util/lp/lar_solver.h
+++ b/src/util/lp/lar_solver.h
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ private:
     
 public :
     unsigned terms_start_index() const { return m_terms_start_index; }
-    const vector<lar_term*> terms() const { return m_terms; }
+    const vector<lar_term*> & terms() const { return m_terms; }
     const vector<lar_base_constraint*>& constraints() const {
         return m_constraints;
     }