diff --git a/wp-includes/capabilities.php b/wp-includes/capabilities.php
index 310d2488f..b93e2a8f5 100644
--- a/wp-includes/capabilities.php
+++ b/wp-includes/capabilities.php
@@ -665,7 +665,7 @@ class WP_User {
 		//Build $allcaps from role caps, overlay user's $caps
 		$this->allcaps = array();
 		foreach ( (array) $this->roles as $role ) {
-			$the_role =& $wp_roles->get_role( $role );
+			$the_role = $wp_roles->get_role( $role );
 			$this->allcaps = array_merge( (array) $this->allcaps, (array) $the_role->capabilities );
 		}
 		$this->allcaps = array_merge( (array) $this->allcaps, (array) $this->caps );