diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 14663e17..4a32513a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ for (json::iterator it = j.begin(); it != j.end(); ++it) {
 }
 
 // range-based for
-for (auto element : j) {
+for (auto& element : j) {
   std::cout << element << '\n';
 }