diff --git a/modules/system/system.admin.inc b/modules/system/system.admin.inc
index 4b20d76c1db7f6b..98691b7d0699b87 100644
--- a/modules/system/system.admin.inc
+++ b/modules/system/system.admin.inc
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ function _system_theme_list() {
  */
 function system_themes_page() {
   // Get current list of themes.
-  $themes =& _system_theme_list();
+  $themes = _system_theme_list();
 
   $theme_default = variable_get('theme_default', 'garland');
   $theme_groups  = array();