diff --git a/src/lib/platform/MSWindowsSession.cpp b/src/lib/platform/MSWindowsSession.cpp
index 9e817b1e..b70de74c 100644
--- a/src/lib/platform/MSWindowsSession.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/platform/MSWindowsSession.cpp
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ MSWindowsSession::getActiveDesktopName()
             CloseDesktop(hd);
         }
     }
-    catch (std::exception error) {
+    catch (std::exception& error) {
         LOG((CLOG_ERR "failed to get active desktop name: %s", error.what()));
     }