diff --git a/encompass-cs/Engine.cs b/encompass-cs/Engine.cs
index b0aa6e5..cefb2ed 100644
--- a/encompass-cs/Engine.cs
+++ b/encompass-cs/Engine.cs
@@ -575,10 +575,10 @@ namespace Encompass
         /// <exception cref="Encompass.Exceptions.IllegalReadException">
         /// Thrown when the Engine does not declare that it Receives the specified Message Type.
         /// </exception>
-        protected TMessage ReadMessage<TMessage>() where TMessage : struct, IMessage
+        protected ref readonly TMessage ReadMessage<TMessage>() where TMessage : struct, IMessage
         {
             CheckMessageRead<TMessage>();
-            return _messageManager.First<TMessage>();
+            return ref _messageManager.First<TMessage>();
         }
 
         /// <summary>