diff --git a/roaring/roaring.go b/roaring/roaring.go
index 1cf271e89..2a0dc57d1 100644
--- a/roaring/roaring.go
+++ b/roaring/roaring.go
@@ -1057,7 +1057,7 @@ func (c *container) clone() *container {
 		copy(other.bitmap, c.bitmap)
 	}
 
-	return c
+	return other
 }
 
 // WriteTo writes c to w.