diff --git a/libstdc++-v3/include/bits/fs_path.h b/libstdc++-v3/include/bits/fs_path.h
index 6e7b366d104..2fc7dcd98c9 100644
--- a/libstdc++-v3/include/bits/fs_path.h
+++ b/libstdc++-v3/include/bits/fs_path.h
@@ -1262,9 +1262,9 @@ namespace __detail
       {
 	if (_M_pathname.back() == preferred_separator)
 	  return {};
-	auto& __last = *--end();
-	if (__last._M_type() == _Type::_Filename)
-	  return __last;
+	auto __last = --end();
+	if (__last->_M_type() == _Type::_Filename)
+	  return *__last;
       }
     return {};
   }