diff --git a/phpBB/includes/extension/controller.php b/phpBB/includes/extension/controller.php
index e7d4427c87..6e47948156 100644
--- a/phpBB/includes/extension/controller.php
+++ b/phpBB/includes/extension/controller.php
@@ -66,12 +66,11 @@ abstract class phpbb_extension_controller implements phpbb_extension_controller_
 		global $request, $db, $user, $template, $config;
 		global $phpEx, $phpbb_root_path;
 
-		$this->request =& $request;
-		$this->db =& $db;
-		$this->user =& $user;
-		$this->template =& $template;
-		$this->config =& $config;
-
+		$this->request = $request;
+		$this->db = $db;
+		$this->user = $user;
+		$this->template = $template;
+		$this->config = $config;
 		$this->phpEx = $phpEx;
 		$this->phpbb_root_path = $phpbb_root_path;
 	}