diff --git a/libs/utils/src/properties.c b/libs/utils/src/properties.c
index 542e1d2b2..def4df4c6 100644
--- a/libs/utils/src/properties.c
+++ b/libs/utils/src/properties.c
@@ -653,7 +653,7 @@ celix_properties_t* celix_properties_copy(const celix_properties_t* properties)
             return NULL;
         }
     }
-    return celix_steal_ptr(copy);
+    return copy;
 }
 
 celix_properties_value_type_e celix_properties_getType(const celix_properties_t* properties, const char* key) {