diff --git a/cockatrice/src/dialogs/dlg_filter_games.cpp b/cockatrice/src/dialogs/dlg_filter_games.cpp
index 6b99d0046..f988c5a49 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/dialogs/dlg_filter_games.cpp
+++ b/cockatrice/src/dialogs/dlg_filter_games.cpp
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ int DlgFilterGames::getMaxPlayersFilterMax() const
     return maxPlayersFilterMaxSpinBox->value();
 }
 
-const QTime &DlgFilterGames::getMaxGameAge() const
+QTime DlgFilterGames::getMaxGameAge() const
 {
     int index = maxGameAgeComboBox->currentIndex();
     if (index < 0 || index >= gameAgeMap.size()) { // index is out of bounds
diff --git a/cockatrice/src/dialogs/dlg_filter_games.h b/cockatrice/src/dialogs/dlg_filter_games.h
index 0b1fd333c..77e5cbb2e 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/dialogs/dlg_filter_games.h
+++ b/cockatrice/src/dialogs/dlg_filter_games.h
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ public:
     int getMaxPlayersFilterMin() const;
     int getMaxPlayersFilterMax() const;
     void setMaxPlayersFilter(int _maxPlayersFilterMin, int _maxPlayersFilterMax);
-    const QTime &getMaxGameAge() const;
+    QTime getMaxGameAge() const;
     const QMap<QTime, QString> gameAgeMap;
     bool getShowOnlyIfSpectatorsCanWatch() const;
     bool getShowSpectatorPasswordProtected() const;