diff --git a/phpBB/report.php b/phpBB/report.php
index 063e55e571..c9ca57ecbe 100644
--- a/phpBB/report.php
+++ b/phpBB/report.php
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ else
 if ($config['enable_post_confirm'] && !$user->data['is_registered'])
 {
 	include($phpbb_root_path . 'includes/captcha/captcha_factory.' . $phpEx);
-	$captcha =& phpbb_captcha_factory::get_instance($config['captcha_plugin']);
+	$captcha = phpbb_captcha_factory::get_instance($config['captcha_plugin']);
 	$captcha->init(CONFIRM_REPORT);
 }