diff --git a/src/editor/palette/palette_manager.cpp b/src/editor/palette/palette_manager.cpp
index d0bbd53176d..b3ff0600f78 100644
--- a/src/editor/palette/palette_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/editor/palette/palette_manager.cpp
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ void palette_manager::handle_event(const SDL_Event& event) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	const SDL_MouseButtonEvent mouse_button_event = event.button;
+	const SDL_MouseButtonEvent &mouse_button_event = event.button;
 
 #if !SDL_VERSION_ATLEAST(2,0,0)
 	if (mouse_button_event.type == SDL_MOUSEBUTTONDOWN) {