diff --git a/plugins/producer_plugin/producer_plugin.cpp b/plugins/producer_plugin/producer_plugin.cpp
index 8f188f7ae39..a780ee89711 100644
--- a/plugins/producer_plugin/producer_plugin.cpp
+++ b/plugins/producer_plugin/producer_plugin.cpp
@@ -1214,7 +1214,7 @@ producer_plugin_impl::start_block_result producer_plugin_impl::start_block() {
 
                   if( preprocess_deadline <= fc::time_point::now() ) exhausted = true;
                   if( exhausted ) break;
-                  const auto& trx = itr->second;
+                  const transaction_metadata_ptr trx = itr->second;
                   auto category = calculate_transaction_category(trx);
                   if (category == tx_category::EXPIRED ||
                      (category == tx_category::UNEXPIRED_UNPERSISTED && _producers.empty()))