diff --git a/lib/database/dbutil.inc b/lib/database/dbutil.inc
index 573f972..f8813f8 100644
--- a/lib/database/dbutil.inc
+++ b/lib/database/dbutil.inc
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class DBUtil {
     function &getDB($db = null) {
         global $default;
         if (is_null($db)) {
-            $db = $default->_db;
+            $db =& $default->_db;
         }
 
 	if(!isset($db->_kt_initialized) || !$db->_kt_initialized) {