diff --git a/include/spdlog/pattern_formatter-inl.h b/include/spdlog/pattern_formatter-inl.h
index ca835b014..ce7e21052 100644
--- a/include/spdlog/pattern_formatter-inl.h
+++ b/include/spdlog/pattern_formatter-inl.h
@@ -877,7 +877,7 @@ class mdc_formatter : public flag_formatter {
         : flag_formatter(padinfo) {}
 
     void format(const details::log_msg &, const std::tm &, memory_buf_t &dest) override {
-        auto mdc_map = mdc::get_context();
+        auto &mdc_map = mdc::get_context();
         if (mdc_map.empty()) {
             ScopedPadder p(0, padinfo_, dest);
             return;