diff --git a/clang/lib/Sema/SemaDecl.cpp b/clang/lib/Sema/SemaDecl.cpp
index c05877843fb2..7aaaf53cac9a 100644
--- a/clang/lib/Sema/SemaDecl.cpp
+++ b/clang/lib/Sema/SemaDecl.cpp
@@ -3472,7 +3472,7 @@ Decl *Sema::ParsedFreeStandingDeclSpec(Scope *S, AccessSpecifier AS,
     return ActOnFriendTypeDecl(S, DS, TemplateParams);
   }
 
-  CXXScopeSpec &SS = DS.getTypeSpecScope();
+  const CXXScopeSpec &SS = DS.getTypeSpecScope();
   bool IsExplicitSpecialization =
     !TemplateParams.empty() && TemplateParams.back()->size() == 0;
   if (Tag && SS.isNotEmpty() && !Tag->isCompleteDefinition() &&