diff --git a/cake/libs/debugger.php b/cake/libs/debugger.php
index 46e5052cf..87b71aeb3 100644
--- a/cake/libs/debugger.php
+++ b/cake/libs/debugger.php
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ class Debugger {
 			return;
 		}
 
-		$_this =& Debugger::getInstance();
+		$_this = Debugger::getInstance();
 
 		if (empty($file)) {
 			$file = '[internal]';
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ class Debugger {
  * @link http://book.cakephp.org/view/1191/Using-the-Debugger-Class
  */
 	public static function trace($options = array()) {
-		$_this =& Debugger::getInstance();
+		$_this = Debugger::getInstance();
 		$defaults = array(
 			'depth'   => 999,
 			'format'  => $_this->_outputFormat,
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ class Debugger {
  * @param array $strings Template strings to be used for the output format.
  */
 	public function output($format = null, $strings = array()) {
-		$_this =& Debugger::getInstance();
+		$_this = Debugger::getInstance();
 		$data = null;
 
 		if (is_null($format)) {