diff --git a/core/utils.cpp b/core/utils.cpp
index cb957f856..d590e2a33 100644
--- a/core/utils.cpp
+++ b/core/utils.cpp
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 namespace okularUtils
 {
 
-QRect rotateRect( QRect source, int width, int height, int orientation )
+QRect rotateRect( const QRect & source, int width, int height, int orientation )
 {
     QRect ret;
 
diff --git a/core/utils.h b/core/utils.h
index dc020286d..966a27d81 100644
--- a/core/utils.h
+++ b/core/utils.h
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ namespace okularUtils
      * Rotate the rect \p source in the area \p width x \p height with the
      * specified \p orientation .
      */
-    QRect OKULAR_EXPORT rotateRect( QRect source, int width, int height, int orientation );
+    QRect OKULAR_EXPORT rotateRect( const QRect & source, int width, int height, int orientation );
 };