diff --git a/nav2_smac_planner/include/nav2_smac_planner/analytic_expansion.hpp b/nav2_smac_planner/include/nav2_smac_planner/analytic_expansion.hpp
index 76719d7231..f612d934bb 100644
--- a/nav2_smac_planner/include/nav2_smac_planner/analytic_expansion.hpp
+++ b/nav2_smac_planner/include/nav2_smac_planner/analytic_expansion.hpp
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class AnalyticExpansion
    * @brief Sets the collision checker and costmap to use in expansion validation
    * @param collision_checker Collision checker to use
    */
-  void setCollisionChecker(GridCollisionChecker * collision_checker);
+  void setCollisionChecker(GridCollisionChecker * & collision_checker);
 
   /**
    * @brief Attempt an analytic path completion
diff --git a/nav2_smac_planner/src/analytic_expansion.cpp b/nav2_smac_planner/src/analytic_expansion.cpp
index 9eff4f3d2b..56edbf4f97 100644
--- a/nav2_smac_planner/src/analytic_expansion.cpp
+++ b/nav2_smac_planner/src/analytic_expansion.cpp
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ AnalyticExpansion<NodeT>::AnalyticExpansion(
 
 template<typename NodeT>
 void AnalyticExpansion<NodeT>::setCollisionChecker(
-  GridCollisionChecker * collision_checker)
+  GridCollisionChecker * & collision_checker)
 {
   _collision_checker = collision_checker;
 }