diff --git a/src/Storage/Storage_InternalData.hxx b/src/Storage/Storage_InternalData.hxx
index 5b50832ac8..51fb2f6999 100644
--- a/src/Storage/Storage_InternalData.hxx
+++ b/src/Storage/Storage_InternalData.hxx
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class Storage_InternalData : public Standard_Transient
 
 public:
 
-  Handle(Storage_HPArray) ReadArray() { return myReadArray; }
+  Handle(Storage_HPArray)& ReadArray() { return myReadArray; }
   
   Standard_EXPORT Storage_InternalData();