diff --git a/CRM/Financial/BAO/FinancialAccount.php b/CRM/Financial/BAO/FinancialAccount.php
index ef178e360529..85afbee9deb7 100644
--- a/CRM/Financial/BAO/FinancialAccount.php
+++ b/CRM/Financial/BAO/FinancialAccount.php
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ public function __construct() {
    *
    * @return CRM_Financial_BAO_FinancialAccount
    */
-  public static function retrieve(&$params, $defaults = []) {
+  public static function retrieve(&$params, &$defaults = []) {
     $financialAccount = new CRM_Financial_DAO_FinancialAccount();
     $financialAccount->copyValues($params);
     if ($financialAccount->find(TRUE)) {