diff --git a/src/selection.cc b/src/selection.cc
index 33b4cd12..a5b2c7b1 100644
--- a/src/selection.cc
+++ b/src/selection.cc
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ void SelectionList::set(Vector<Selection> list, size_t main)
 
 bool compare_selections(const Selection& lhs, const Selection& rhs)
 {
-    const auto lmin = lhs.min(), rmin = rhs.min();
+    const auto& lmin = lhs.min(), rmin = rhs.min();
     return lmin == rmin ? lhs.max() < rhs.max() : lmin < rmin;
 }