diff --git a/common/rfb/DecodeManager.cxx b/common/rfb/DecodeManager.cxx
index 774f7bb..c509db0 100644
--- a/common/rfb/DecodeManager.cxx
+++ b/common/rfb/DecodeManager.cxx
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@
       entry->decoder->decodeRect(entry->rect, entry->bufferStream->data(),
                                  entry->bufferStream->length(),
                                  *entry->cp, entry->pb);
-    } catch (rdr::Exception e) {
+    } catch (rdr::Exception& e) {
       manager->setThreadException(e);
     } catch(...) {
       assert(false);