diff --git a/panda/src/tform/mouseWatcher.I b/panda/src/tform/mouseWatcher.I
index 2b52834551..2a45ea5cf2 100644
--- a/panda/src/tform/mouseWatcher.I
+++ b/panda/src/tform/mouseWatcher.I
@@ -34,12 +34,9 @@ is_mouse_open() const {
  * It is only valid to call this if has_mouse() returns true.  If so, this
  * returns the current position of the mouse within the window.
  */
-INLINE const LPoint2 &MouseWatcher::
+INLINE LPoint2 MouseWatcher::
 get_mouse() const {
-#ifndef NDEBUG
-  static LPoint2 bogus_mouse(0.0f, 0.0f);
-  nassertr(_has_mouse, bogus_mouse);
-#endif
+  nassertr(_has_mouse, LPoint2(0, 0));
   return _mouse;
 }
 
diff --git a/panda/src/tform/mouseWatcher.h b/panda/src/tform/mouseWatcher.h
index a1005d2a32..fa012e5780 100644
--- a/panda/src/tform/mouseWatcher.h
+++ b/panda/src/tform/mouseWatcher.h
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ PUBLISHED:
 
   INLINE bool has_mouse() const;
   INLINE bool is_mouse_open() const;
-  INLINE const LPoint2 &get_mouse() const;
+  INLINE LPoint2 get_mouse() const;
   INLINE PN_stdfloat get_mouse_x() const;
   INLINE PN_stdfloat get_mouse_y() const;