diff --git a/src/policy_cache.hpp b/src/policy_cache.hpp
index f922b9e9..62e1d3ff 100644
--- a/src/policy_cache.hpp
+++ b/src/policy_cache.hpp
@@ -51,11 +51,13 @@ public:
   std::string*
   find(char const *key_)
   {
-    std::string rv;
+    std::string *rv ;
+
+    rv = nullptr;
     auto func =
       [&](const auto &v)
       {
-        rv = v;
+        rv = &v;
       };
     
     _cache.visit(key_,func);