diff --git a/gtsam/geometry/tests/testEssentialMatrix.cpp b/gtsam/geometry/tests/testEssentialMatrix.cpp
index c923e398b..86a498cdc 100644
--- a/gtsam/geometry/tests/testEssentialMatrix.cpp
+++ b/gtsam/geometry/tests/testEssentialMatrix.cpp
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ TEST (EssentialMatrix, rotate) {
   Matrix actH1, actH2;
   try {
     bodyE.rotate(cRb, actH1, actH2);
-  } catch (exception e) {
+  } catch (exception& e) {
   } // avoid exception
   Matrix expH1 = numericalDerivative21(rotate_, bodyE, cRb), //
   expH2 = numericalDerivative22(rotate_, bodyE, cRb);