diff --git a/encompass-cs/MessageManager.cs b/encompass-cs/MessageManager.cs
index 1e7d704..234f46f 100644
--- a/encompass-cs/MessageManager.cs
+++ b/encompass-cs/MessageManager.cs
@@ -48,9 +48,9 @@ namespace Encompass
             return _messageStore.Any<TMessage>();
         }
 
-        internal TMessage First<TMessage>() where TMessage : struct, IMessage
+        internal ref readonly TMessage First<TMessage>() where TMessage : struct, IMessage
         {
-            return _messageStore.First<TMessage>();
+            return ref _messageStore.First<TMessage>();
         }
 
         internal IEnumerable<TMessage> WithEntity<TMessage>(int entityID) where TMessage : struct, IMessage, IHasEntity