diff --git a/lib/triagens/Avocado/HttpHelper.php b/lib/triagens/Avocado/HttpHelper.php
index dc0e14f0..5d1ef9ed 100644
--- a/lib/triagens/Avocado/HttpHelper.php
+++ b/lib/triagens/Avocado/HttpHelper.php
@@ -133,8 +133,8 @@ public static function transfer($socket, $request) {
   public static function createConnection(ConnectionOptions $options) {
     $fp = @fsockopen($options[ConnectionOptions::OPTION_HOST],
                      $options[ConnectionOptions::OPTION_PORT], 
-                     &$number,
-                     &$message, 
+                     $number,
+                     $message, 
                      $options[ConnectionOptions::OPTION_TIMEOUT]); 
     if (!$fp) {
       throw new ConnectException($message, $number);