diff --git a/include/media/IMediaDeathNotifier.h b/include/media/IMediaDeathNotifier.h
index bb3d0d8..aca6678 100644
--- a/include/media/IMediaDeathNotifier.h
+++ b/include/media/IMediaDeathNotifier.h
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
     virtual ~IMediaDeathNotifier() { removeObitRecipient(this); }
 
     virtual void died() = 0;
-    static const sp<IMediaPlayerService>& getMediaPlayerService();
+    static const sp<IMediaPlayerService> getMediaPlayerService();
 
 private:
     IMediaDeathNotifier &operator=(const IMediaDeathNotifier &);
diff --git a/media/libmedia/IMediaDeathNotifier.cpp b/media/libmedia/IMediaDeathNotifier.cpp
index d4360ea..c43ef66 100644
--- a/media/libmedia/IMediaDeathNotifier.cpp
+++ b/media/libmedia/IMediaDeathNotifier.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 SortedVector< wp<IMediaDeathNotifier> > IMediaDeathNotifier::sObitRecipients;
 
 // establish binder interface to MediaPlayerService
-/*static*/const sp<IMediaPlayerService>&
+/*static*/const sp<IMediaPlayerService>
 IMediaDeathNotifier::getMediaPlayerService()
 {
     ALOGV("getMediaPlayerService");
diff --git a/media/libmedia/mediaplayer.cpp b/media/libmedia/mediaplayer.cpp
index 502ab2d..dcce3cc 100644
--- a/media/libmedia/mediaplayer.cpp
+++ b/media/libmedia/mediaplayer.cpp
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@
     ALOGV("setDataSource(%s)", url);
     status_t err = BAD_VALUE;
     if (url != NULL) {
-        const sp<IMediaPlayerService>& service(getMediaPlayerService());
+        const sp<IMediaPlayerService> service(getMediaPlayerService());
         if (service != 0) {
             sp<IMediaPlayer> player(service->create(this, mAudioSessionId));
             if ((NO_ERROR != doSetRetransmitEndpoint(player)) ||
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@
 {
     ALOGV("setDataSource(%d, %" PRId64 ", %" PRId64 ")", fd, offset, length);
     status_t err = UNKNOWN_ERROR;
-    const sp<IMediaPlayerService>& service(getMediaPlayerService());
+    const sp<IMediaPlayerService> service(getMediaPlayerService());
     if (service != 0) {
         sp<IMediaPlayer> player(service->create(this, mAudioSessionId));
         if ((NO_ERROR != doSetRetransmitEndpoint(player)) ||
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@
 {
     ALOGV("setDataSource");
     status_t err = UNKNOWN_ERROR;
-    const sp<IMediaPlayerService>& service(getMediaPlayerService());
+    const sp<IMediaPlayerService> service(getMediaPlayerService());
     if (service != 0) {
         sp<IMediaPlayer> player(service->create(this, mAudioSessionId));
         if ((NO_ERROR != doSetRetransmitEndpoint(player)) ||
diff --git a/media/libmedia/mediarecorder.cpp b/media/libmedia/mediarecorder.cpp
index 8bbd8f1..0eb7de5 100644
--- a/media/libmedia/mediarecorder.cpp
+++ b/media/libmedia/mediarecorder.cpp
@@ -617,7 +617,7 @@
 {
     ALOGV("constructor");
 
-    const sp<IMediaPlayerService>& service(getMediaPlayerService());
+    const sp<IMediaPlayerService> service(getMediaPlayerService());
     if (service != NULL) {
         mMediaRecorder = service->createMediaRecorder(opPackageName);
     }