diff --git a/src/player.cpp b/src/player.cpp
index 0b6808ee9bbe2..d243e263baa8e 100644
--- a/src/player.cpp
+++ b/src/player.cpp
@@ -4704,7 +4704,7 @@ bool player::wield_contents( item &container, item *internal_item, bool penaltie
             if( pos < 0 ) {
                 return false;
             }
-            internal_item = &*std::next( container.contents.begin(), pos );
+            internal_item = *std::next( container_contents.begin(), pos );
         } else {
             internal_item = &container.contents.front();
         }