diff --git a/testApp/misc/testSerialization.cpp b/testApp/misc/testSerialization.cpp
index 33a8bd2..8ec0b44 100644
--- a/testApp/misc/testSerialization.cpp
+++ b/testApp/misc/testSerialization.cpp
@@ -748,7 +748,7 @@ void testBoundedString() {
     try {
         pvStr->put("tooLargeString");
         testFail("too large string accepted");
-    } catch (std::overflow_error oe) {
+    } catch (std::overflow_error& oe) {
         // OK
     }