diff --git a/src/items/item.hpp b/src/items/item.hpp
index c6b3f82413f..db7ea154d8c 100644
--- a/src/items/item.hpp
+++ b/src/items/item.hpp
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class Item;
 class ItemProperties {
 public:
 	template <typename T>
-	const T &getAttribute(ItemAttribute_t type) const {
+	T getAttribute(ItemAttribute_t type) const {
 		if constexpr (std::is_same_v<T, std::string>) {
 			return getString(type);
 		} else {
@@ -47,8 +47,7 @@ class ItemProperties {
 		}
 		g_logger().error("Failed to convert attribute for type {}", fmt::underlying(type));
 
-		static T defaultType;
-		return defaultType;
+		return {};
 	}
 
 	bool hasAttribute(ItemAttribute_t type) const {