diff --git a/src/random.hpp b/src/random.hpp
index 894f458..cb7c3d4 100644
--- a/src/random.hpp
+++ b/src/random.hpp
@@ -26,13 +26,13 @@ namespace sc {
             static double double_between(double from, double to);
 
             template <typename T>
-            static T choice(const std::vector<T>& vec) {
+            static const T& choice(const std::vector<T>& vec) {
                 std::uniform_int_distribution<int> dist {0, static_cast<int>(vec.size()) - 1};
                 return vec[dist(instance()._reng)];
             }
 
             template <typename T, typename Iter>
-            static T choice(Iter from, Iter to) {
+            static const T& choice(Iter from, Iter to) {
                 std::uniform_int_distribution<int> dist {0, static_cast<int>(to - from) - 1};
                 return *(from + dist(instance()._reng));
             }