diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/session.cpp b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/session.cpp
index 74fcd85a09e..889ede52a7a 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/session.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/session.cpp
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ void SessionManager::closeAllProjects()
     removeProjects(projects());
 }
 
-const QList<Project *> &SessionManager::projects()
+QList<Project *> SessionManager::projects()
 {
     return d->m_projects;
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/session.h b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/session.h
index 9f59f8c622b..06600557ed9 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/session.h
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/session.h
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ public:
     static Utils::FileName sessionNameToFileName(const QString &session);
     static Project *startupProject();
 
-    static const QList<Project *> &projects();
+    static QList<Project *> projects();
     static bool hasProjects();
 
     static bool isDefaultVirgin();