diff --git a/eeschema/netlist_exporters/netlist_exporter_spice.cpp b/eeschema/netlist_exporters/netlist_exporter_spice.cpp
index 292d23bb6c..6205f2bdd1 100644
--- a/eeschema/netlist_exporters/netlist_exporter_spice.cpp
+++ b/eeschema/netlist_exporters/netlist_exporter_spice.cpp
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ void NETLIST_EXPORTER_SPICE::readRefName( SCH_SHEET_PATH& aSheet, SCH_SYMBOL& aS
 void NETLIST_EXPORTER_SPICE::readModel( SCH_SHEET_PATH& aSheet, SCH_SYMBOL& aSymbol,
                                         SPICE_ITEM& aItem, REPORTER& aReporter )
 {
-    SIM_LIBRARY::MODEL libModel = m_libMgr.CreateModel( &aSheet, aSymbol, aReporter );
+    const SIM_LIBRARY::MODEL& libModel = m_libMgr.CreateModel( &aSheet, aSymbol, aReporter );
 
     aItem.baseModelName = libModel.name;
     aItem.model = &libModel.model;