diff --git a/src/conky.cc b/src/conky.cc
index a625442f..b41ae170 100644
--- a/src/conky.cc
+++ b/src/conky.cc
@@ -2497,7 +2497,7 @@ void clean_up_x11(void)
 }
 #endif
 
-void free_specials(special_t *current) {
+void free_specials(special_t *&current) {
 	if (current) {
 		free_specials(current->next);
 		if(current->type == GRAPH)