diff --git a/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Internal/Hydration/ObjectHydrator.php b/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Internal/Hydration/ObjectHydrator.php
index c32842ef0bb..a9aaaf97cf9 100644
--- a/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Internal/Hydration/ObjectHydrator.php
+++ b/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Internal/Hydration/ObjectHydrator.php
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ protected function hydrateRowData(array $row, array &$result)
                             $this->resultPointers[$dqlAlias] = $reflFieldValue[$index];
                         }
                     } elseif (! $reflFieldValue) {
-                        $reflFieldValue = $this->initRelatedCollection($parentObject, $parentClass, $relationField, $parentAlias);
+                        $this->initRelatedCollection($parentObject, $parentClass, $relationField, $parentAlias);
                     } elseif ($reflFieldValue instanceof PersistentCollection && $reflFieldValue->isInitialized() === false) {
                         $reflFieldValue->setInitialized(true);
                     }