diff --git a/lib/kdecoration.cpp b/lib/kdecoration.cpp
index 38b45a79f1..c791db4645 100644
--- a/lib/kdecoration.cpp
+++ b/lib/kdecoration.cpp
@@ -378,12 +378,12 @@ KDecorationOptions::~KDecorationOptions()
     KDecoration::options_ = NULL;
     }
 
-const QColor& KDecorationOptions::color(ColorType type, bool active) const
+QColor KDecorationOptions::color(ColorType type, bool active) const
 {
     return(d->colors[type + (active ? 0 : NUM_COLORS)]);
 }
 
-const QFont& KDecorationOptions::font(bool active, bool small) const
+QFont KDecorationOptions::font(bool active, bool small) const
 {
     if ( small )
         return(active ? d->activeFontSmall : d->inactiveFontSmall);
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ const QFont& KDecorationOptions::font(bool active, bool small) const
         return(active ? d->activeFont : d->inactiveFont);
 }
 
-const QPalette& KDecorationOptions::palette(ColorType type, bool active) const
+QPalette KDecorationOptions::palette(ColorType type, bool active) const
 {
     int idx = type + (active ? 0 : NUM_COLORS);
     if(d->pal[idx])
diff --git a/lib/kdecoration.h b/lib/kdecoration.h
index 6f9811f647..9120ac9939 100644
--- a/lib/kdecoration.h
+++ b/lib/kdecoration.h
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ public:
      * @param type   The requested color type.
      * @param active Whether the color should be for active or inactive windows.
      */
-    const QColor& color(ColorType type, bool active=true) const;
+    QColor color(ColorType type, bool active=true) const;
     /**
      * Returns a palette using the given decoration color as the background.
      * The changed flags for this setting is SettingColors.
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ public:
      * @param type   The requested color type.
      * @param active Whether to return the color for active or inactive windows.
      */
-    const QPalette& palette(ColorType type, bool active=true) const;
+    QPalette palette(ColorType type, bool active=true) const;
     /**
      * Returns the active or inactive decoration font.
      * The changed flags for this setting is SettingFont.
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ public:
      * @param active Whether to return the color for active or inactive windows.
      * @param small  If @a true, returns a font that's suitable for tool windows.
      */
-    const QFont& font(bool active=true, bool small = false) const;
+    QFont font(bool active=true, bool small = false) const;
     /**
     * Returns @a true if the style should use custom button positions
     * The changed flags for this setting is SettingButtons.