diff --git a/src/scripting/backend/codegen.cpp b/src/scripting/backend/codegen.cpp
index 9aabc3f9e..352955d61 100644
--- a/src/scripting/backend/codegen.cpp
+++ b/src/scripting/backend/codegen.cpp
@@ -6858,10 +6858,10 @@ ExpEmit FxCVar::Emit(VMFunctionBuilder *build)
 	{
 		int *pVal;
 		auto cv = static_cast<FFlagCVar *>(CVar);
-		auto &vcv = cv->ValueVar;
-		if (vcv == compatflags) pVal = &i_compatflags;
-		else if (vcv == compatflags2) pVal = &ii_compatflags2;
-		else pVal = &vcv.Value;
+		auto vcv = &cv->ValueVar;
+		if (vcv == &compatflags) pVal = &i_compatflags;
+		else if (vcv == &compatflags2) pVal = &ii_compatflags2;
+		else pVal = &vcv->Value;
 		build->Emit(OP_LKP, addr.RegNum, build->GetConstantAddress(pVal));
 		build->Emit(OP_LW, dest.RegNum, addr.RegNum, nul);
 		build->Emit(OP_SRL_RI, dest.RegNum, dest.RegNum, cv->BitNum);