diff --git a/src/AbstractContainer.php b/src/AbstractContainer.php
index 8d0c80ea..769beed3 100644
--- a/src/AbstractContainer.php
+++ b/src/AbstractContainer.php
@@ -425,7 +425,8 @@ public function offsetExists($key)
     public function &offsetGet($key)
     {
         if (! $this->offsetExists($key)) {
-            return;
+            $null = null;
+            return $null;
         }
         $storage = $this->getStorage();
         $name = $this->getName();