diff --git a/rtexif/rtexif.cc b/rtexif/rtexif.cc
index d79fd1849..bea091b66 100644
--- a/rtexif/rtexif.cc
+++ b/rtexif/rtexif.cc
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ Glib::ustring TagDirectory::getDumpKey (int tagID, const Glib::ustring &tagName)
 
     return key;
 }
-void TagDirectory::addTag (Tag* tag)
+void TagDirectory::addTag (Tag* &tag)
 {
 
     // look up if it already exists:
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ void TagDirectory::addTag (Tag* tag)
     }
 }
 
-void TagDirectory::addTagFront (Tag* tag)
+void TagDirectory::addTagFront (Tag* &tag)
 {
 
     // look up if it already exists:
diff --git a/rtexif/rtexif.h b/rtexif/rtexif.h
index f6960bc09..2b68a6754 100644
--- a/rtexif/rtexif.h
+++ b/rtexif/rtexif.h
@@ -156,8 +156,8 @@ public:
     bool             getXMPTagValue (const char* name, char* value) const;
 
     void        keepTag       (int ID);
-    void        addTag        (Tag* a);
-    void        addTagFront   (Tag* a);
+    void        addTag        (Tag* &a);
+    void        addTagFront   (Tag* &a);
     void        replaceTag    (Tag* a);
     inline Tag* getTagByIndex (int ix)
     {