Index: wp-includes/l10n.php
===================================================================
--- wp-includes/l10n.php	(revision 21256)
+++ wp-includes/l10n.php	(working copy)
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
  * @return string Translated text
  */
 function translate( $text, $domain = 'default' ) {
-	$translations = &get_translations_for_domain( $domain );
+	$translations = get_translations_for_domain( $domain );
 	return apply_filters( 'gettext', $translations->translate( $text ), $text, $domain );
 }
 
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@
 }
 
 function translate_with_gettext_context( $text, $context, $domain = 'default' ) {
-	$translations = &get_translations_for_domain( $domain );
+	$translations = get_translations_for_domain( $domain );
 	return apply_filters( 'gettext_with_context', $translations->translate( $text, $context ), $text, $context, $domain );
 }
 
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@
  * @return string Either $single or $plural translated text
  */
 function _n( $single, $plural, $number, $domain = 'default' ) {
-	$translations = &get_translations_for_domain( $domain );
+	$translations = get_translations_for_domain( $domain );
 	$translation = $translations->translate_plural( $single, $plural, $number );
 	return apply_filters( 'ngettext', $translation, $single, $plural, $number, $domain );
 }
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@
  *
  */
 function _nx($single, $plural, $number, $context, $domain = 'default') {
-	$translations = &get_translations_for_domain( $domain );
+	$translations = get_translations_for_domain( $domain );
 	$translation = $translations->translate_plural( $single, $plural, $number, $context );
 	return apply_filters( 'ngettext_with_context', $translation, $single, $plural, $number, $context, $domain );
 }
@@ -493,12 +493,15 @@
  * @param string $domain
  * @return object A Translation instance
  */
-function &get_translations_for_domain( $domain ) {
+function get_translations_for_domain( $domain ) {
 	global $l10n;
-	if ( !isset( $l10n[$domain] ) ) {
-		$l10n[$domain] = new NOOP_Translations;
-	}
-	return $l10n[$domain];
+	if ( isset( $l10n[ $domain ] ) )
+		return $l10n[ $domain ];
+
+	static $noop_translations;
+	if ( ! $noop_translations )
+		$noop_translations = new NOOP_Translations;
+	return $noop_translations;
 }
 
 /**