diff --git a/src/Controller/Component.php b/src/Controller/Component.php
index 3d8cf852820..fc830902658 100644
--- a/src/Controller/Component.php
+++ b/src/Controller/Component.php
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ public function __construct(ComponentRegistry $registry, array $config = [])
         $this->_registry = $registry;
         $controller = $registry->getController();
         if ($controller) {
-            $this->request =& $controller->request;
+            $this->request = $controller->request;
         }
 
         $this->config($config);