diff --git a/common/Configuration.cpp b/common/Configuration.cpp
index b5c9c3ee2e71876c101e5f806c47b1b128f8096d..0f0eb687803930d20f588d8a45f1ef558a41ccf9 100644
--- a/common/Configuration.cpp
+++ b/common/Configuration.cpp
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ const std::string& cta::common::Configuration::getConfEntString(
     }
     // Unlock and return default
     pthread_rwlock_unlock(&m_lock);
-  } catch (cta::exception::Exception) {
+  } catch (cta::exception::Exception &) {
     // exception caught : Unlock and return default
     pthread_rwlock_unlock(&m_lock);
     // log the exception