diff --git a/docs/NEWS b/docs/NEWS
index badb1755..46a8c105 100644
--- a/docs/NEWS
+++ b/docs/NEWS
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 Version 1.2 ()
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+    * Fix bug in conjunction with PHP 5.2.1 changed variable-by-reference
+      handling that could result in no groups being listed for author
+      accounts (garvinhicking)
+
     * Fix redundant space when inserting links through the non-WYSIWYG
       editor panel. Fix "null" insertion. Thanks to Alp Uckan.
       
diff --git a/include/functions_config.inc.php b/include/functions_config.inc.php
index 575c3e56..29338726 100644
--- a/include/functions_config.inc.php
+++ b/include/functions_config.inc.php
@@ -1238,14 +1238,15 @@ function &serendipity_getGroups($authorid, $sequence = false) {
     }
 
     if ($sequence) {
-        $_groups = $groups;
-        $groups  = array();
-        foreach($_groups AS $grouprow) {
-            $groups[] = $grouprow['confkey'];
+        $rgroups  = array();
+        foreach($groups AS $grouprow) {
+            $rgroups[] = $grouprow['confkey'];
         }
+    } else {
+        $rgroups =& $groups;
     }
 
-    return $groups;
+    return $rgroups;
 }
 
 /**