diff --git a/src/lib_json/json_value.cpp b/src/lib_json/json_value.cpp
index 1d8688380..2fe463095 100644
--- a/src/lib_json/json_value.cpp
+++ b/src/lib_json/json_value.cpp
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ namespace Json {
 // static
 Value const& Value::nullSingleton()
 {
- static Value const* nullStatic = new Value;
- return *nullStatic;
+ static Value const nullStatic;
+ return nullStatic;
 }
 
 // for backwards compatibility, we'll leave these global references around, but DO NOT